Otticha Sophie, Moraa Jane, Onyango Jacob, Okumu Olivia, Ochillo Marylyn, Ayallo Judith, Owiti Phillip, Ouma Lillian, Ounda Nancy, Odwar Tobias, Ogot Shantana Carol, Agot Kawango
Impact Research and Development Organization, Kisumu, Kenya.
PLoS One. 2024 Dec 19;19(12):e0310540. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310540. eCollection 2024.
The burden of HIV among female sex workers (FSWs) remains higher in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with an estimated prevalence of 36.9%. In Kenya, HIV prevalence among FSWs is 29.3% compared to 6.6% among adult women in the general population. Economic disempowerment is a significant driver of HIV among FSWs, specifically manifested in engagement in higher-paying, high risk sex. Saving interventions to improve financial security have the potential to reduce HIV risk among FSWs.
We conducted 24 focus group discussions (FGD) with each session involving 6-10 respondents. The FGD guide explored saving history and income sources, spending and loan-taking practices as factors associated with saving. Thematic analysis identified themes related to financial burden, loaning, saving and spending, sources of income, HIV risk behaviors in the context of sex work, and acceptability of the proposed saving intervention to reduce HIV risk.
We conducted 24 FGDs with 221 respondents, of whom 19.9% were married and 85.4% reported being heads of households. We identified the following key themes, that FSWs were: open to participating in a saving intervention being proposed to reduce their HIV risk; financially insecure, thus engaging in sexual practices that increase their HIV risk; living beyond their means leading to further financial insecurity; and desiring an intervention that equips them with knowledge and skills on how to balance earning and spending in order to save and how to take and repay loans without increasing their HIV risk.
FSWs in western Kenya were receptive to the proposed savings intervention, believing that it would increase their financial stability and reduce the need to engage in risky sex when faced with emergency situations that require immediate cash.
在撒哈拉以南非洲地区，女性性工作者感染艾滋病毒的负担依然较重，估计患病率为36.9%。在肯尼亚，女性性工作者的艾滋病毒患病率为29.3%，而普通成年女性中的患病率为6.6%。经济上的弱势是女性性工作者感染艾滋病毒的一个重要驱动因素，具体表现为从事报酬更高但风险也更高的性行为。旨在改善经济安全状况的储蓄干预措施有可能降低女性性工作者感染艾滋病毒的风险。
我们开展了24次焦点小组讨论，每次讨论有6至10名受访者参与。焦点小组讨论指南探讨了储蓄历史、收入来源、支出和借贷行为等与储蓄相关的因素。主题分析确定了与经济负担、借贷、储蓄和支出、收入来源、性工作背景下的艾滋病毒风险行为以及为降低艾滋病毒风险而提议的储蓄干预措施的可接受性相关的主题。
我们对221名受访者进行了24次焦点小组讨论，其中19.9%已婚，85.4%称自己是户主。我们确定了以下关键主题：女性性工作者愿意参与为降低其艾滋病毒风险而提议的储蓄干预措施；经济上不安全，因此从事增加其感染艾滋病毒风险的性行为；入不敷出导致进一步的经济不安全；希望获得一种干预措施，使她们掌握如何平衡收入和支出以进行储蓄以及如何借贷和还款而不增加其感染艾滋病毒风险的知识和技能。
肯尼亚西部的女性性工作者接受提议的储蓄干预措施，认为这将增强她们的经济稳定性，并减少在面临需要即时现金的紧急情况时从事危险性行为的必要性。
