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
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