Social marketing to tackle AIDS: targeted condom
promotion leads to declining HIV in Cambodia
Authors: ; PSI
Publisher:
Population Services International , 2004
This article by Population Services International (PSI)
charts the significant decrease in HIV prevalence in Cambodia
between 1998 and 2002, and outlines the key role that targeted
condom promotion has played in this decline. Specifically, PSIs
social marketing of condoms is discussed, including a variety of
strategies used to target both high and low risk groups. Whilst
overall HIV prevalence has dropped, the decrease has been
greatest among brothel-based commercial sex workers (CSWs) and
other high risk groups. Condom use has also increased
dramatically among these groups, however remains low outside
brothels, particularly in marital and "sweetheart"
relationships.
The article concludes that these changes are largely
attributable to the Cambodian government’s 100% condom use
policy in the sex industry, combined with PSIs strategic social
marketing of condoms. Whilst the changes do not signal the end
of the epidemic in Cambodia, they do demonstrate the significant
and wide-reaching impact that well-targeted condom promotion can
have on HIV prevalence. Given this impact, the article
recommends that social marketing as a means of HIV prevention be
scaled up in both low and high prevalence countries.
Self-esteem matters: condom use by Thai sex
workers
Authors: Nicholas
Ford; Suporn Koetsawang; University of Exeter
Publisher: id21
Development Research Reporting Service, 2002
Thailand's sex industry is of core importance for the
country's serious HIV problem. There is a strong male tradition
of using commercial sex workers (CSW) before and during
marriage. What are the psychosocial factors that affect the use
of condoms by CSW? How can interventions increase the rate of
condom use?
Male-male sex cannot be ignored in Asia
Authors: ; MAP
Network
Publisher:
Monitoring the AIDS Pandemic Network, 2005
This publication, from the Monitoring the AIDS Pandemic (MAP)
Network, reviews the situation of men who have sex with men (MSM)
in Asia. The report summarises the key findings about the
epidemiology of HIV and AIDS among Asian MSM and discusses the
programmatic implications of these findings. Key findings show
that in 2003, 17 per cent of MSM in Bangkok, Thailand were HIV
positive. By 2000, 15 per cent of MSM in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
tested positive for HIV. The prevalence of HIV among transgender
sex workers in Jakarta, Indonesia increased from 6 per cent in
1997 to 22 per cent in 2002. While these findings represent the
most at risk segment of the MSM population, they give cause for
alarm in Asian countries that continue to neglect MSM
prevention, care, support and treatment.
The report highlights four areas that programme managers
addressing male-male sex need to consider. These include
increasing condom use in male-male sex, and introducing
prevention methods to those engaging in high-risk activities,
such as men and transgendered people who sell sex to men.
Managers also need to consider issues of drug use and men who
have sex with men and women. [adapted from author] |
