Use of Mobile Phone and Social Media in Sex Work Client Solicitation amongst Clients of HIV Targeted Intervention Projects in Delhi – An Exploratory Study
Journal Title: International Journal of Preventive, Curative & Community Medicine - Year 2018, Vol 4, Issue 2
Abstract
The current study was carried out to describe the use of mobile technology amongst the population at high risk of HIV infection (clients of Targeted Intervention Project under National AIDS Control Program) in Delhi. Information was collected from 1520 high-HIV-risk clients registered in targeted intervention projects in Delhi under National AIDS Control Program, using a structured questionnaire. Around 87.8% of the 1520 respondents admitted to be in possession of mobiles with the lowest levels being amongst IDUs. The truckers, female sex workers, transgenders, and migrants data shows more than 90% of the clients being in possession of mobiles, while only 58.3% of injectable drug user clients reported obsessing a mobile phone. Only 8% of the respondents reported using the mobiles for HIV awareness, though around two-fifths of the respondents reported having ever used them for social media. The use of mobile phones in soliciting clients amongst the groups involved in sex work, viz., MSM, transgenders, and female sex workers was reported to be 83.5%, 80.0% and 77.6% respectively. Messenger apps and video calls are commonly used for solicitation. Voice calls have been a common way of soliciting clients. WhatsApp messenger was found to be the most commonly used messenger amongst all the three categories of respondents. Almost universal availability of mobiles amongst HIV-high-risk population, affordable mobile technologies, and increasing use of social media may be tapped to increase awareness for prevention and control of spread of HIV/AIDS for the benefit of the high-risk population.
Authors and Affiliations
Dr. Mrinalini Darswal,
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP288431
- DOI 10.24321/2454.325X.201813
- Views 88
- Downloads 0
Economic Burden of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among Patients in the Rural Field Practice Area of a Medical College in Davangere - A Cross Sectional Study
Background: Diabetes is rapidly emerging as a major health care problem, even in rural India. The earlier occurrence, delayed diagnosis and improper care leads to high complication rates, greater productivity loss and co...
Public Perception Survey on Air Pollution in South Delhi
Background: According to a WHO study, 13 of the 20 most-polluted cities in the world are in India, which is more than half of the world’s most polluted cities. Delhi is at 11th position. Pollution in Delhi hit almost 30...
A Counseling Room Approach to Improve the Quality of Life of Cervical Cancer Patients at an Apex Hospital of North India
Background: Cancer is a dreaded disease, feared by most. Cervical cancer in particular is more distressing as the organs involved are associated with femininity, sexuality and fertility. Once a woman is diagnosed with ce...
A Cross Sectional Study of General and Maternal Morbidities among Female Sex Workers of a Metro City
Introduction: Globally the issues of morbidity among female sex workers are major concerns but mostly have been neglected. Objective: To study the general and maternal health morbidities among female sex workers. Materia...
Climate Change and its effects on Vector Borne Diseases in India
The world is witnessing Climate change. This change has already started affecting air quality, food production, water supply, coastal settlements and human health. Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infect...