Browsing by Author "Isac, Shajy"
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- ItemDemographic changes and trends in risk behaviours, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Bangalore, India involved in a focused HIV preventive intervention.(2013-11-18) Jayaraman, Gayatri C; Kumar, Shiv; Isac, Shajy; Javalkar, Prakash; Gowda, Pushpalatha Rama Narayana; Raghunathan, N; Gowda, Chandra Shekhar; Bhattacharjee, Parinita; Moses, Stephen; Blanchard, James FThe primary objectives of this study were to assess the changing demographic characteristics of female sex workers FSWs in the urban Bangalore district India and trends in programme coverage HIV sexually transmitted infection prevalence rates and condom use Cross sectional integrated behavioural and biological assessments of FSWs were conducted in 2006 2009 and 2011 Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to describe trends over time The results indicate the mean age of initiation into sex work has increased 26 9 years in 2006 vs 27 6 years in 2011 pUnder0 01 a higher proportion of FSWs reported being in stable relationships in 2011 70 2 vs 43 2 in 2006 pUnder0 01 and having conducted sex work outside the district in the past 6 months 10 0 in 2011 vs 16 0 in 2006 p 0 01 There was an increase in the proportion of FSWs using cellphones to solicit clients 4 4 in 2006 vs 57 5 in 2011 pUnder0 01 and their homes for sex work 61 4 in 2006 vs 77 8 in 2011 pUnder0 01 Reactive syphilis prevalence declined 12 6 in 2006 to 4 in 2011 p 0 02 as did high titre syphilis prevalence 9 5 in 2006 to 2 5 in 2011 p 0 01 HIV prevalence declined but not significantly 12 7 in 2006 and 9 3 in 2011 p 0 39 Condom use remained above 90 increasing significantly among repeat paying clients 66 6 in 2006 to 93 6 in 2011 pUnder0 01 However condom use remained low with non paying partners when compared with occasional paying partners 17 6 vs 97 2 in 2011 pUnder0 01 Given the changing dynamics in the FSW population at multiple levels there is a need to develop and customise strategies to meet local needs
- ItemThe feasibility of using mobile phone technology for sexual behaviour research in a population vulnerable to HIV: a prospective survey with female sex workers in South India.(2012-05-15) Bradley, Janet; Ramesh, B M; Rajaram, S; Lobo, Anil; Gurav, Kaveri; Isac, Shajy; Chandra Shekhar Gowda, G; Pushpalatha, R; Moses, Stephen; Sunil, Kumar D R; Alary, MichelSexual behaviour studies are often challenged by sampling participation and measurement biases and may be unacceptable to participants We invited 293 randomly selected female sex workers FSWs in Bangalore India to participate in a telephone survey with condom breakage as the main outcome Free cell phones were supplied and trained interviewers telephoned FSWs daily to ask about all sex acts the previous day Later we undertook focus groups to discuss the methodology with the participants We evaluated technical and operational feasibility data reliability and measurement error emotional and fatigue effects interviewer bias survey reactivity effects and user acceptability Response rates were high with 84 of invited participants complying fully with the protocol The study ran smoothly with little evidence of biases The methodology was highly acceptable the respondents enjoyed using a new telephone and being interviewed at times convenient to them Other reasons for the success of the method were that the study was sanctioned and supported by the sex worker collective and the interviewers were well trained and developed a strong rapport with the participants The success of this methodology and the wealth of data produced indicates that it can be an important tool for conducting sexual behaviour research in low literacy high sex volume populations