Page No.90-100
Sibnath Deb
Calcutta University, Kolkata.
Heterosexual contact is the main mode of transmission of HIV/AIDS across the
globe and Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) are considered to be one of the
main carriers of the disease. The disease might spread fast if discrimination is
not minimized and good quality condoms are not made available free of cost for
CSWs, not in paper but in practice. The broad objective of the study was to
understand the mental disposition of the CSWs with HIV/AIDS; motivating factors
for blood testing; nature of care and support services received by them after
identification of the disease and to suggest viable and comprehensive rehabilitative
measures. In order to achieve the objective of the study, a group of 26 CSWs
with HIV/AIDS was covered. For collection of data semi-structured questionnaire,
Beck Hopelessness Questionnaire, in-depth interview and case study methods
were adapted. Findings revealed that most of the CSWs had been suffering
from depression. Blood testing for ascertaining HIV status was mostly voluntary
and severe health problems caused by the disease were the main motivating
factors for majority of the CSWs (68.2 per cent), followed by persuasion by the
health workers (18.8 per cent). Out of a total of 26 CSWs with HIV/AIDS, only
six had taken anti-retroviral therapy. About half of the CSWs experienced social
discrimination following the detection of the disease within the family and/or in
social life while about one-third reported discrimination in the health centers,
which affected the quality of services. The findings of the present study suggested
comprehensive rehabilitation programme for the CSWs with HIV/AIDS along
with alternative sources of earning, which will encourage CSWs to come forward
for voluntary blood testing and thereby reducing the secondary transmission of
the disease