Condom Use And Prevention Of Hiv/Aids Among Commercial Sex Workers At Marps Network In Mbuya

ABSTRACT

This study sought to investigate condom use in the prevention of HIV/AIDS among

commercial sex workers and was carried out at MARPS Network in Mbuya, Kampala

District. The study was guided by three research objectives; to establish how socio

economic characteristics of commercial sex workers affect condom use; to investigate

the attitudes and the perceptions of commercial sex workers towards condom use) and

to find out the levels of condom use and awareness among commercial sex workers. A

cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 80 respondents in all, including 73

Commercial Sex Workers under MARPs Network, 01 official of Uganda Aids

Commission (UAC), 01 official from Ministry of Health in the HIV sector) and 04 Heads

of NGQs supporting commercial sex workers (MARP5 Network and WONETHA), using

both quantitative and qualitative research methods of data collection, analysis and

presentation. The study also reviewed existing documents regarding condom use

among commercial sex workers and HIV/AIDS. The study found that social-economic

factors had different dimensions in determining the use or none use of condoms for sex

among commercial sex workers) like one’s economic activity) type of housing for the

commercial sex workers, pressure for rent, level of education and cultural perceptions.

The study concluded that that the major factors affecting attitudes and perception of

commercial sex workers towards condom use were perceived reduction in sexual

pleasure, rigidity of male clients, lack of condoms at a particular time, amount of money

offered and the tyke of client. Respondents were more willing to use condoms for the

first time with a new or irregular client but as friendship develops with a regular client or

steady partner, the urge for using condoms faded with familiarity between partners. The

study recommended that government intensifies its social-economic transformation

efforts in order to reduce on general poverty levels in the country. This was in light of

the fact that poverty and ignorance were leading factors compelling women to take to commercial sex activities. Government should therefore fight poverty through encouraging more free female education, provide reproductive   health services in health centers and increase funding of self help projects for all people especially women as well as encouraging free condom distribution to CSWs.