AEGiS-15IAC: Railway station porters and their vulnerability to STD/HIV.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Railway station porters and their vulnerability to STD/HIV.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. D10251)

Banerjee A, Mitra S, Sengupta S
Rural and Urban Development and Sustainable Alternatives, Calcutta, India

BACKGROUND: Study of high-risk sexual behaviours among migrant railway porters in India for designing targeted sexual health interventions.

METHODS: In-depth interviews (250), Focused group discussions (20). Sample (7%): 430 respondants.

RESULTS: 95% were under the age of 45 years. 43% of the respondents were ill-literate and had very poor economic status. While 88% were married only 22% of those married lived with their spouses. 79% reported having occasional sexual contacts with sex workers or young homeless girls dwelling in and around the railway station. Sexual activity in and around the station was common and so was the case of rape and sexual abuse. Many porters are reported to be having sex among themselves as with young homeless boys and girls. 17 % said that they enjoyed anal sex the most. Only 33% of the respondents have ever used condoms. 17% of the respondents reported incidence of genital ulcers and 5% reported discharge from penis in the last 6 months. Interviews with local doctors, inc luding quacks revealed that porters commonly suffer from STDs. Most of the porters visit local quacks who are reported to be administering steroids with a cocktail of indigenous medicines and common antibiotics.

CONCLUSION: The study has established the vulnerability of railway porters to STD/HIV and the need for undertaking sexual health intervention, which would include 1. Behaviour Change Communication through peer education, 2. Putting up AIDS messages on station hoarding, coaches, 3. Clinics for STD diagnosis and treatment and counselling within the station premises, 7. Condom programming through clinic, peer educators and local outlets, 8. Training local doctors, particularly quacks on syndromic management of STD

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Condoms, Sexual Behavior, HIV Infections, Incidence, Prostitution, Interviews, India, Male, Female, organization & administration, education, therapy

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D10251