JA – STDs down among sex workers according to reports

By Caribbean Medical News Staff
A recent sex worker survey done by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), revealed that the rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has massively decreased from 12 per cent to 2.9 per cent.
Andrea Campbell, who is the Director of Health Promotion and Prevention at the National Family Planning Board (NFPB), made the revelation at a recent meeting. She said the results are encouraging, while informing that the sex workers are receiving and acting on the safe sex messages from the NFPB.
She highlighted that the NFPB, through its training and outreach programs, has been able to engage more sex workers and share prevention and safe sex messages.
The director informed that sex workers are among the high risk group for STDs, because they are more susceptible to rape, have multiple partners, and may often not practice safe sex with condoms.
Some of the outreach methods used by the NFPB team are: hosting workshops, visiting clubs and massage parlours, and streets visits. Ms. Campbell said that many of the sex workers, who attend the workshops, share the information with their associates.
Through the NFBP’s intervention program, some former sex workers have been reformed and are preparing to enter the workforce. Ms. Campbell said: “We have a group of 14 young ladies, who will graduate this year from a vocational institution.”
She said that the NFPB is also placing emphasis on reducing unwanted and unplanned pregnancies among the child bearing age group 16-39 years. The NFPB is observing National Family Planning Week under the theme: ‘Building Families, Building our Nation: A Focus on Vulnerable Populations’.
She noted that emotional and socio-economic problems, resultant from unwanted pregnancies, can degrade the family structure, particularly if the women have turned to sex work as an alternative.