Addressing alcohol use can improve structural factors in the lives of sex workers
Modifying structural drivers of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic, such as alcohol, violence, or socio-economic status is a challenging but necessary component of developing sustainable, effective solutions to the HIV epidemic.
A new study called “The impact of an alcohol harm reduction intervention on interpersonal violence and engagement in sex work among female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya: Results from a randomized controlled trial” presents findings from an individually randomised trial, where female sex workers were randomised to receive an individual-level programme focused on alcohol and substance use, and to assess non-alcohol associated outcomes of violence, and indirectly economic vulnerability. While the programme did not produce persistent effects at six months for all components, it very usefully demonstrated how addressing alcohol use, a structural factor central to sex workers’ lives, can potentially also improve non-alcohol associated outcomes…

Addressing alcohol use can improve structural factors in the lives of sex workers

Modifying structural drivers of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic, such as alcohol, violence, or socio-economic status is a challenging but necessary component of developing sustainable, effective solutions to the HIV epidemic.

A new study called “The impact of an alcohol harm reduction intervention on interpersonal violence and engagement in sex work among female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya: Results from a randomized controlled trial” presents findings from an individually randomised trial, where female sex workers were randomised to receive an individual-level programme focused on alcohol and substance use, and to assess non-alcohol associated outcomes of violence, and indirectly economic vulnerability. While the programme did not produce persistent effects at six months for all components, it very usefully demonstrated how addressing alcohol use, a structural factor central to sex workers’ lives, can potentially also improve non-alcohol associated outcomes. These included

  • Experiences of violence,
  • Economic status, and even
  • Ability to reduce time spent in sex work.

Alcohol harm reduction programming should be integrated into HIV prevention programming with female sex workers, regardless of HIV status.

Findings

The alcohol intervention was associated with statistically significant decreases in physical violence from paying partners at 6 months post-intervention and verbal abuse from paying partners immediately post-intervention and 6-months post-intervention. Those assigned to the alcohol intervention had significantly reduced odds of engaging in sex work immediately post-intervention and 6-months post-intervention.

Conclusions

The alcohol intervention was associated with reductions in some forms of violence and with reductions in engagement in sex work among female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya.

Abstract access

Parcesepe AM, KL LE, Martin SL, Green S, Sinkele W, Suchindran C, Speizer IS, Mwarogo P, Kingola N. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016 Apr 1;161:21-8. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.12.037. Epub 2016 Jan 22.

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