What Works for Women and Girls

tent condom use and 1.5 times more likely to report consistent condom use in the lastthree sexual acts (Hong et al., 2008). (Gray IV) (sex workers, condom use, China)A 100% condom use program implemented in Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodiawhere authorities met weekly with brothel owners concerning noncompliance decreasedHIV seroprevalence among sex workers from 51% in 1999 to 16% in 2007. Amongsex workers STI prevalence based on laboratory diagnosis declined from 90% in 2001to 7% in 2008. Peer educators counseled sex workers on negotiating condom use.Authorities also met with brothel owners to discuss ways to support sex workers whenclients refused condom use (Pisey, 2008). (Abstract) (sex workers, STIs, peer education,condom use, Cambodia) [See footnote]4. Providing routine, high quality, voluntary and confidential STI clinical services that includecondom promotion can be successful in reducing HIV risk among sex workers.A study in Guangxi, China evaluated the efficacy of cultural adaptation of a voluntarycounseling and testing (VCT) intervention, in increasing condom use and decreasingrates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among a group of female sex workers.This intervention is modeled after the “state-of-the-science” VCT program that wasdeveloped and evaluated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s ProjectRESPECT. The Project RESPECT two–session VCT program was adapted with fivemajor modifications by the investigation team in response to the social and culturalcontext of female sex workers in China. Four hundred female sex workers were assignedto either an intervention group receiving the VCT intervention or a control groupreceiving standard of care STI testing and treatment. Data were collected at baseline and6 months post intervention. Outcome measures included HIV/STI related knowledgeand perceptions, condom use, and history of STIs. Five common STIs were screenedand tested through clinical examination and laboratory testing to serve as biomarkers.After controlling for potential confounders and baseline differences, the VCT interventiongroup was significantly higher than the control group in HIV/STI related knowledgeand consistent condom use with clients at 6 months follow-up. In addition, theintervention group had a significantly lower infection rate of STIs than the controlgroup at follow-up. This quasi-experimental trial provides evidence that the brief VCTintervention, through appropriate cultural adaptation, can be efficacious in increasingcondom use and reducing STI infection rate among female sex workers in China (Li etal., 2006). (Gray III) (sex workers, counseling, HIV testing, condom use, STIs, China)A resurvey of 172 HIV-negative female sex workers one year after 2002 in Kenya foundthat condom use had increased and STI prevalence had decreased. From 1998 to 2002monthly antibiotics to prevent STI and HIV transmission were provided along withregular counseling, condoms, screening and treatment. Quarterly community meetingsfor sex workers in the individual villages, as well as a larger meeting including allvillages in the area to address sex worker risk reduction issues as a community wereWHAT WORKS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS85