Client Perspectives on Design and Implementation of a Couples-Based Intervention to Reduce Sexual & Drug Risk Behaviors among Female Sex Workers and Their Noncommercial Partners in Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, México

This mixed-methods study examined the acceptability of a hypothetical couples-based HIV prevention program for female sex workers and their intimate (non-commercial) male partners in Mexico. 

Among 320 participants, 67% preferred couples-based over individual programs, particularly among men. Reasons cited for preferring couples-based programs included convenience and health benefits for both partners. Participants reported that they would benefit from general health information and services, HIV counseling and testing, job training (particularly for men) and other services. 

However, qualitative interviews revealed that barriers relating to the environment (i.e., poor access to services), providers (i.e., lack of a therapeutic alliance), and intimate relationships (i.e., mistrust or instability) would need to be addressed before such a program could be successfully implemented. 

Despite women’s concerns about privacy and men’s preferences for gender-specific services, couples-based HIV prevention programs were largely acceptable to female sex workers and their intimate male partners.

Read more at: http://ht.ly/S79Qw 

By: Lawrence A. Palinkas, Ph.D.,1,2,* Angela M. Robertson, Ph.D., M.P.H.,2 Jennifer L. Syvertsen, Ph.D., M.P.H.,2 Daniel O. Hernandez, B.S.,2 Monica D. Ulibarri, Ph.D.,3 M. Gudelia Rangel, Ph.D.,4 Gustavo Martinex, M.D.,5 and Steffanie A. Strathdee, Ph.D.2

²Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA

³Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA

⁴El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Tijuana, México

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²Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA

³Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA

⁴El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Tijuana, México

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1School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
2Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
3Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
4El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Tijuana, México
5Federación Mexicana de Asociaciones Privadas, Ciudad Juárez, México

1School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

1School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA