Alternative Employment and HIV Infection Risk Reduction among Female Sex Workers in Kawempe, Division, Kampala

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study set out to investigate the potential for alternative employment and HIV infection risk reduction among female sex workers (FSW) in Kawempe Division, Kampala. The study was guided by three objective namely: (1) to compare the sexual practices and risk-taking behaviours among FSW who have supplementary employment with those without any alternative employment, (2) to assess the work dynamics and challenges faced by FSW in supplementary or alternative employment, (3) to assess the feasibility of supplementary or alternative employment for FSW as a strategy for reducing HIV infection and other risks involved. This study employed a case study research design, using descriptive strategies that employed qualitative and quantitative techniques which complimented each other in triangulation of field data. Convenient and snowball sampling techniques were used to select 60 FSW participants while purposive sampling strategy was used to select 10 key informants. The quantitative data it was analysed using a computer program, SPSS version 19 while the qualitative data was analysed using a thematic data analysis method. Study findings revealed that women join sex work trade majorly as a means of survival to meet their socioeconomic needs. Drivers of females into sex trade vary from one person to another but majorly they include; peer influence, economic hardships and intimate partner violence. The challenges and risks involved in sex trade exposes FWS to HIV and other STIs. Alternative employment in this case therefore helps sex workers to earn an extra income that empowers women to negotiate for safe sex, reduces on the numbers of men one involve with hence reducing on the risks. Using a multi-sectoral approach, government of Uganda support scaling up of HIV targeted intervention services among sex workers. Additionally, organizations that work with and for sex workers should involve sex workers at all levels when planning for issues that affect them. “Nothing for us without us” as their slogan goes especially the economic empowerment programs.