Capacity Building of Law Enforcement Officers to Handle Sex

Workers In Sri Lanka

H.M.J.P. Vidanapathirana1

M. Sangeeth2

1National HIV/AIDS Prevention Project, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 2Posittive Women Net Work, Community Based Organization, Sri Lanka

Sri LankaMiddle income country

Population 20 m

Total fertility rate 2.2

Literacy rate 91

Life expectancy 74

Per capita income USD 1990

Reported HIV/AIDS cases end of 2012 March

1503

Estimated HIV/AIDS CASES

3000

HIV/AIDS prevalence < 0.1%

Sex worker population

40,000

Sex in private is not an offence. Adultery also not an offence

Vagrants ordinance 1841 -soliciting sex is an offence in public places.

Sex workers are been arrested by police due to soliciting and selling sex under the vagrants ordinance in Sri Lanka.

Background For The Police Interventions

Background For The Study

It has been observed that there were some misunderstandings about condoms and that they are not considered as a medical device

Some evidence that sex workers are arrested by police while they are keeping condoms.

NSACP implement different interventions for police personnel to get the commitment for National HIV prevention programme

To create an enabling environment for HIV prevention activities among most at risk populations, particularly sex workers.

To prevent the arbitrary arrest of sex workers for condom possession

To develop positive attitudes towards condoms as a medical device

To improve harassment-free law enforcement practices for sex workers

 

Background For The Police Interventions

Training Of Police Instructors

Pre and post interventional study

Three days participatory-based special training programme were conducted for 206 Island wide training instructors attached to police training colleges.

Selection was done randomly and training given in 4 sessions

Objective Of The Study

To assess the knowledge, attitude on HIV/AIDS and willingness to support the national HIV/AIDS plan while handling sex workers

Methodology

The training module was developed and included with various sessions using different education methods

Training Module was pre tested

The pre and post test questionnaire was used to assess the

- difference of knowledge - attitude - willingness to support the national HIV/AIDS plan while handling sex workers

Subject Areas Covered During The Training

Sexuality Sexual challenges HIV/AIDS prevention STI Prevention Counseling Sex work and legal status of Sri

Lanka Positive telling

Training Methods

Role play Lecture discussions Brain storming Group work Case scenarios and role plays Participants questions and

answering

Group work

Presentations After Group Work

Role Play Sessions

Positive Telling

Distributed Different Training Materials

Analysis

Knowledge Score was developed and converted in to a percentage.

Likert scale was used to assess the attitude

Thro

ugh

unpr

otec

ted

sexu

al c

o...

Thro

ugh

unpr

otec

ted

sexu

al c

o...

Thro

ugh

infe

cted

blo

od a

nd b

l...

Thro

ugh

infe

cted

mot

her t

o ch

i...

Thro

ugh

HIV

cont

amin

atad

syr..

.0102030405060708090

10085

9588 92

8494 96 96 94 96

Indicators of transmission

Pre Test

Post Test

Time

Know

ledg

e %

on

tran

smis

sion

Results

Thro

ugh

shai

ring

razo

rs

Thro

ugh

mos

quito

bite

s

Thro

ugh

shai

ringc

ups a

...

Thro

ugh

shar

ing

tolie

t...0

102030405060708090

100

11

46

68

4551

6773 69

Indicators of non transmission

Pre Test

Post Test

Time

Know

ledg

e %

on

non

tran

smis

sion

0102030405060708090

10089

42

65

95

65

89

Pre TestPost Test

% K

now

ledg

eKnowledge on Transmission, non transmission and prevention

Non Transmission Prevention Transmission

STI0

102030405060708090

10085 87

Pre TestPost Test%

Kno

wle

dge

Knowledge on STI

Attitudes0

102030405060708090

100

79

93

Pre TestPost Test

% K

now

ledg

e

Attitude towards people living with HIV,MARPHS and condoms

0102030405060708090

100

79

93

Willingness to support the National HIV/AIDS programme

Pre TestPost Test

Willingness

%

Yes

No

Someti

me

0tan28a566028

0tan19a566019

0tan9a56609

0tan29a566029

0tan19a566019

0tan10a566010

0tan3a56603

0tan4a56604

0tan1a56601

Answ

er %

Whether the implementation of HIV / AIDS prevention work disrupt their day today duties

Iden

tifica

tion

of...

Sexu

al c

halle

nges

HIV

/AID

S pr

eve.

..

STD

pre

venti

on

Coun

selin

g

Shai

ring

exp

erie

...

Case

stu

dies

0

20

40

60

80

100 9083

9892

81 83 80

10 15

28

17 17 20

0 2 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 2 0 0

Views of participants on different sessions

Very goodGoodFairly Good

Answ

er %

Total knowledge score on HIV transmission, prevention and misconception of the police officers showed significant increase from 69.5(SD+16.1) at pre intervention stage to post intervention stage 86.6(SD +13.08).

Total attitude score on handling sex workers

with the intention of HIV prevention showed significant increase from pre intervention to post intervention (P= 0.001).

Results

Willingness to support the national HIV/AIDS plan while handling sex workers indicated significant increase from pre intervention to post intervention(P= 0.0001).

All officers have positive attitude towards condoms, HIV infected persons and MRAPHS were improved after the intervention.

Results

The special training was effective to improve the knowledge, attitudes about HIV/AIDS and improve the wiliness to support national HIV/AIDS plan while correct handling sex workers.

It is recommended to provide necessary communication materials for training instructors in island wide to carry out continuous education for police officers.

Conclusions

Harassments Free Healthy Sex Worker population