Online Program

329497
Impact of an alcohol harm reduction intervention on interpersonal violence and HIV sexual risk behaviors among female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya: Results from a randomized controlled trial


Sunday, November 1, 2015

Angela Parcesepe, MPH, MSW, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Kelly L'Engle, PhD, MPH, Behavioral and Social Sciences, FHI 360, Research Triangle Park, NC
Sandra L. Martin, PhD, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Background: Little is known about the impact of alcohol harm reduction interventions on interpersonal violence or HIV sexual risk behavior. This study investigated whether an alcohol harm reduction intervention was associated with reduced interpersonal violence or HIV sexual risk behaviors among female sex workers (FSW) in Mombasa, Kenya.

Methods: Data were collected as part of a randomized controlled alcohol harm reduction intervention study. The sample was comprised of FSW in Mombasa who were 18 years or older, associated with HIV prevention drop-in centers and moderate-risk drinkers. Participants received 6 alcohol harm reduction (n=410) or nutrition sessions (n=408). General linear mixed models examined associations between intervention assignment and recent violence (physical and sexual violence in the past 30 days) from paying and non-paying partners and HIV sexual risk behavior (engagement in sex work in the past 30 days, total number of different sex partners in past 7 days) at 6 and 12 months post-enrollment. 

Results: The alcohol intervention was associated with statistically significant decreases in sexual violence from paying but not from non-paying partners at 6 and 12 months post-enrollment and physical violence from paying and non-paying partners at 12 months post-enrollment. Those assigned to the alcohol intervention had 0.57 (95% CI 0.38, 0.87) times the odds of engaging in sex work at 12 months post-enrollment and reported significantly fewer sex partners at 6 months post-enrollment.

Conclusions: The alcohol intervention was associated with reduced violence and HIV sexual risk behaviors among FSW in Mombasa, Kenya. Future research should explore mechanisms through which alcohol reduction leads to reduced violence among FSWs (i.e., reduced risk-taking, economic empowerment). In addition, more research is needed to understand whether alcohol reduction leads to reduced violence among FSW who continue to engage in sex work or through discontinuation of sex work

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Assess whether an alcohol harm reduction intervention was associated with reduced interpersonal violence or HIV sexual risk behaviors among female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya

Keyword(s): Alcohol Use, Violence & Injury Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have extensive experience conducting research on gender-based violence across global settings, including with alcohol-using female sex workers as well as with other vulnerable groups of women.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.