Let’s use a condom! – Factors influencing low condom use among female sex workers in Prakla (Bontang, Indonesia)
Since 2005, the local NGO LARAS established in cooperation with the Dutch NGO Mainline a condom distribution program for female sex workers in Bontang. However, condom use among these women is still low. To stop STI levels, including HIV, from increasing it is important to identify which factors influence low condom use. The main question of this research is: Which factors influence low condom use among female sex workers in the sex village Prakla in Bontang, Indonesia.
The fieldwork for this qualitative evaluation study took place during three months, from April to July 2009, in Bontang. Data was collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, informal interviews, diaries, life stories and analysis of existing sources. The study population consists of female sex workers, clients of sex workers, pimps, local men and women from Bontang, employees of LARAS and a VCT counsellor. The concepts of behaviour change, risk, gender and power, and structure and agency have been used to analyze low condom use.
The conclusion of this study is that several factors influence low condom use among the sex workers. Islamic negative associations, which link condoms to free sex, result in low condom use. The socio-demographic status, (Islamic ideas in the) media, lack of knowledge among the outreach workers and unclear information in brochures leads to lack of / incorrect knowledge. Lack of / incorrect knowledge about transmission and prevention of STIs and HIV leads to the use of inadequate and harmful prevention methods, i.e. washing the genitals with sirih soap and / or toothpaste, consuming jamu and high antibiotic use. In addition, existing unequal gender relations, unequal power relations and the economic risk make it for the sex workers very difficult or even impossible to force their clients to use condoms. For these women the economic risk when clients go to another FSW because they force them to use condoms weighs heavier than the risk of (incurable) disease when they do not use condoms. This study shows however, that some women do have agency. For these female sex workers social risk, i.e. contracting a disease and not be able to build a nice future close to family / friends, weighs higher which lead them to use condoms with their customers.
LARAS has a positive effect on the condom use among sex workers. To increase condom use further, the effect of incorrect knowledge, other inefficient prevention strategies used, the male customers, the existing unequal gender and power relationships, and different types of risks that sex workers have should be taken into account.
Let’s use a condom! – Factors influencing low condom use among female sex workers in Prakla (Bontang, Indonesia)
Since 2005, the local NGO LARAS established in cooperation with the Dutch NGO Mainline a condom distribution program for female sex workers in Bontang. However, condom use among these women is still low. To stop STI levels, including HIV, from increasing it is important to identify which factors influence low condom use. The main question of this research is: Which factors influence low condom use among female sex workers in the sex village Prakla in Bontang, Indonesia.
The fieldwork for this qualitative evaluation study took place during three months, from April to July 2009, in Bontang. Data was collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, informal interviews, diaries, life stories and analysis of existing sources. The study population consists of female sex workers, clients of sex workers, pimps, local men and women from Bontang, employees of LARAS and a VCT counsellor. The concepts of behaviour change, risk, gender and power, and structure and agency have been used to analyze low condom use.
The conclusion of this study is that several factors influence low condom use among the sex workers. Islamic negative associations, which link condoms to free sex, result in low condom use. The socio-demographic status, (Islamic ideas in the) media, lack of knowledge among the outreach workers and unclear information in brochures leads to lack of / incorrect knowledge. Lack of / incorrect knowledge about transmission and prevention of STIs and HIV leads to the use of inadequate and harmful prevention methods, i.e. washing the genitals with sirih soap and / or toothpaste, consuming jamu and high antibiotic use. In addition, existing unequal gender relations, unequal power relations and the economic risk make it for the sex workers very difficult or even impossible to force their clients to use condoms. For these women the economic risk when clients go to another FSW because they force them to use condoms weighs heavier than the risk of (incurable) disease when they do not use condoms. This study shows however, that some women do have agency. For these female sex workers social risk, i.e. contracting a disease and not be able to build a nice future close to family / friends, weighs higher which lead them to use condoms with their customers.
LARAS has a positive effect on the condom use among sex workers. To increase condom use further, the effect of incorrect knowledge, other inefficient prevention strategies used, the male customers, the existing unequal gender and power relationships, and different types of risks that sex workers have should be taken into account.
