Strengthening Participation by Young Women Sex Workers in HIV Programs: Reflections on a Study From Bangkok, Thailand

Simple item page
aut.relation.journalInternational Journal of Women's Healthen_NZ
aut.relation.volume9en_NZ
aut.researcherConn, Catherine
dc.contributor.authorConn, Cen_NZ
dc.contributor.authorModderman, Ken_NZ
dc.contributor.authorNayar, SSen_NZ
dc.date.accessioned2019-08-23T02:17:07Z
dc.date.available2019-08-23T02:17:07Z
dc.date.copyright2017en_NZ
dc.date.issued2017en_NZ
dc.description.abstractBackground: Participation is an accepted means of increasing the effectiveness of public health programs, and as such, it is considered an important component of HIV interventions targeting at-risk youth. The situation of young women sex workers in Thailand is alarming on many fronts, including that of HIV risk. As a result, HIV programs in Thailand are the key interventions undertaken in relation to young women sex workers’ health. A small-scale study used semistructured interviews to explore the participation reports of five young women sex workers, as well as the related views of two community support workers, who lived and worked in Bangkok, Thailand. Discussion: This study is considered in the light of current research on – as well as new opportunities and challenges offered for – participation by vulnerable groups in the context of digital society. Thematic analysis of the interview data identified barriers to participation, including the illegality of sex work, fear, and lack of trust of the authorities, as well as widespread social stigma. Such barriers resulted in young women seeking anonymity. Yet, promisingly, young women positioned themselves as experts; they are involved in peer education and are supportive of greater involvement in HIV programs, such as further educational initiatives and collective actions. Conclusion: There is a need for a more empowerment-oriented participation practice positioning young women sex workers as expert educators and codecision makers within a model of participation that is also accountable, such as including young women as members of program boards. Beyond current norms, there are new opportunities emerging because of the increasing availability of smartphone/Internet technology. These can support activist and codesign participation by young women sex workers in HIV programs. However, any developments in participation must maximize opportunities carefully, taking into consideration the difficult social environment faced by young women sex workers as well as the need for strategies to address illegality and stigma.
dc.identifier.citationInternational journal of women's health, 9, 619.
dc.identifier.doi10.2147/IJWH.S141996en_NZ
dc.identifier.issn1179-1411en_NZ
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/12762
dc.publisherDove Medical Pressen_NZ
dc.relation.urihttps://www.dovepress.com/strengthening-participation-by-young-women-sex-workers-in-hiv-programs-peer-reviewed-article-IJWH
dc.rightsThis work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.
dc.rights.accessrightsOpenAccessen_NZ
dc.subjectCommunity participation; Prosumer; ePublic health; Peer educator; Stigma
dc.titleStrengthening Participation by Young Women Sex Workers in HIV Programs: Reflections on a Study From Bangkok, Thailanden_NZ
dc.typeJournal Article
pubs.elements-id304625
pubs.organisational-data/AUT
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Health & Environmental Science
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Health & Environmental Science/Public Health & Psych Studies
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF/PBRF Health and Environmental Sciences
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF/PBRF Health and Environmental Sciences/HY Public Health & Psychosocial Studies 2018 PBRF
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Strengthening participation by young women sex workers in HIV programs.pdf
Size:
215.25 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Journal article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
AUT Grant of Licence for Tuwhera Aug 2018.pdf
Size:
276.29 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
School of Public Health and Interdisciplinary Studies