Effects of interventions to reduce risk of sexually transmitted diseases in female commercial sex workers in Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to assess the effects of interventions to reduce risk of sexually transmitted diseases in commercial female direct sex workers in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. In 1998 the interventions to reduce risk of sexually transmitted diseases in commercial sex workers was piloted in the main seaport town of Sihanoukville. These included health education compaigns, outreach and peer education, condom promotion and distribution, and STD care provision. This study collected and organized secondary data from various types of sources concerned with STD/HIV control program in Cambodia. The stduy compared the data before, during and after interventions about rate of condom use by commercial female direct sex worker and their clients, the STD prevalence, and HIV prevalence. The results showed that percentage of sex workers reporting always using condoms with clients increased from 44% in 1998 to 96% in 2000. In addition, the number of condoms sold by Population Services International and the rate of condom buying increased from year to year, especially from 1998 to 2000. Moreover, the outcome indicators of this pilot project in Sihanoukville showed evidence of reduction in prevalence of STD (syphilis and trichomoniasis) and behavioral change in sex workers, i.e. increase condom use. Drawing on experience from this pilot project, the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STD has identified the interventions as a core strategy in its HIV/STD prevention program, and has expanded these interventions to high-risk situations throughout the country.