Student
Dissertation 1st Batch 
Awareness among the Hotel Based Sex Workers (HBSWs) on HIV/AIDS through Peer Education.
Humaira Matin
Abstract
Humaira MatinAs the HIV epidemic grows in South Asia, Bangladesh can not afford to be complacent. Already Bangladesh is seeing HIV increase among its high-risk groups. Considering that nearly 75% of all global HIV infections are sexually transmitted, with similar projection for South Asia, sex workers are one of the most vulnerable of these high-risk groups in Bangladesh. According to UNAIDS estimates, Bangladesh had about 13,000 adults and children living with HIV infection at the end 2002. However, only 248 HIV cases have actually been reported. Although overall HIV prevalence is low, behavior patterns and extensive risk factors that facilitate the rapid spread of the infection are prevalent, making Bangladesh highly vulnerable to an HIV/AIDS epidemic. As it becomes increasingly clear that the sex trade in Bangladesh is under rapid change, the fact that HIV prevention programs are failing to keep up with these changes is cause for alarm. The shut down of several large brothels in 1999 and eviction of sex workers has been a catalyst in changing the landscape of the sex trade in Bangladesh. Brothels were rapidly replaced by other venues; we find a large number of women working out of hotels. Correspondingly, vulnerability to HIV has extended to this new group (FHI, 2002).
