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Effectiveness of an Adapted Evidence-Based Woman-Focused Intervention for Sex Workers and Non-Sex Workers: The Women's Health CoOp in South Africa

NCJ Number
236487
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 41 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 2011 Pages: 233-252
Author(s)
Wendee M. Wechsberg; William A. Zule; Winnie K. Luseno; Tracy L. Kline; Felicia A. Browne; Scott P. Novak; Rachel Middlesteadt Ellerson
Date Published
2011
Length
20 pages
Annotation

This study examined South Africa's concurrent epidemics of HIV, substance use, and gender-based violence.

Abstract

South Africa's concurrent epidemics of HIV, substance use, and gender-based violence point to the urgent need for interventions that address the intersectional nature of these issues. A community-based randomized trial assessed the efficacy of an adapted evidence-based Woman-Focused HIV intervention addressing all three issues with sex workers and non-sex workers. At 6-month follow-up, non-sex workers in the Woman-Focused intervention reported significantly lower mean numbers of days drinking alcohol in the previous 30 days, were significantly less likely to meet DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence, were more likely to report using a condom at last sex with a main partner, and were less likely to report sexual abuse by a maain partner in the previous 90 days. Sex workers in the Woman-Focused intervetnion were significantly less likely to report physical abuse by a main partner. The findings suggest that gender-focused interventions can be effective for vulnerable women and should be offered more broadly. (Published Abstract)