Document 0299
 DOCN  M9650299
 TI    'Superstar' and 'model brothel': developing and evaluating a condom
       promotion program for sex establishments in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
 DT    9605
 AU    Visrutaratna S; Lindan CP; Sirhorachai A; Mandel JS; Chiang Mai
       Provincial Public Health Office, Thailand.
 SO    AIDS. 1995 Jul;9 Suppl 1:S69-75. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96085746
 AB    OBJECTIVES: We developed and evaluated a multifaceted AIDS prevention
       program to increase condom use among sex workers in the city of Chiang
       Mai, Northern Thailand. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A year-long intervention
       targeted sex workers, brothel owners and clients, promoted cooperation
       between these groups and the public health office and established a free
       condom supply for sex establishments. Nearly 500 women from 43
       establishments took part in the program, encompassing nearly all direct
       sex workers in urban Chiang Mai. The intervention included repeated
       small-group training sessions for sex workers in which experienced women
       ('superstars') acted as peer educators. The 'model brothel' component
       encouraged all brothel owners in Chiang Mai to insist on mandatory use
       of condoms by sex workers and to encourage clients to use condoms.
       Before and after the intervention, specially trained volunteers posing
       as clients tested a subsample of sex workers to see whether they
       insisted on condom use. RESULTS: The intervention was well received by
       sex workers and obtained strong support and cooperation from brothel
       owners. Before the intervention, only 42% (10/24) of women surveyed by
       volunteers posing as clients refused to have sex without a condom, even
       when the client insisted and offered to pay three times the usual fee.
       Following the program, 92% (72/78) refused; 1 year later, 78% (69/85)
       refused during the same scenario. CONCLUSIONS: An innovative program
       directly involving sex workers as peer educators and enlisting the
       support of brothel owners and operators can result in improved condom
       use over time. Lessons learned from this program may be applicable
       elsewhere.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  Adult  Condoms/*STATISTICS & NUMER DATA
       *Developing Countries  Female  Follow-Up Studies  *Health Promotion
       Human  Male  Peer Group  Program Evaluation  Prostitution/*STATISTICS &
       NUMER DATA  Sex Education  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  Support, U.S. Gov't,
       P.H.S.  Thailand/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Urban Population/*STATISTICS & NUMER DATA
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).