DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2013.v01i06.0113

Pages: 1201-1208

Background: In India, HIV remains a concentrated epidemic disproportionately affecting key populations, including female sex workers (FSWs). Urban FSWs face elevated risks due to high client turnover, limited bargaining power, and structural barriers such as stigma, violence, and restricted healthcare access. India’s National AIDS Control Programme Phase III (NACP-III), launched in 2007, introduced targeted interventions (TIs) emphasizing peer education, condom distribution, and STI/HIV service linkage to mitigate these risks. Objective: This study evaluates HIV prevalence, risk behaviors, and the effectiveness of TIs among FSWs in Kolkata, India, during 2010, exploring how behavioral and structural factors shape intervention outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to August 2010 with 75 FSWs recruited via peer-referral sampling. Data were collected through structured interviews, clinical HIV/STI testing, and program records. Quantitative analysis assessed condom use, service uptake, knowledge levels, and behavioral patterns, with statistical correlations examined using SPSS. Results: HIV prevalence was 10.7%, with 15% of participants reporting at least one STI. Consistent condom use was high with clients (88%) but significantly lower with regular partners (42.7%). Peer-led interventions improved HIV knowledge (92% correct responses) and health service engagement (70.7% interacted with peer educators). Barriers such as partner refusal, trust in regular partners, and stigma persisted, undermining prevention efforts. Conclusion: TIs have enhanced awareness and service access among Kolkata’s FSWs, but behavioral inconsistencies and systemic inequities limit their impact. Sustainable HIV prevention requires community-driven, behaviorally nuanced interventions addressing stigma, gender dynamics, and structural vulnerabilities.