ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of behavioral and environmental interventions to control gonorrhea among brothel-based sex workers. Several studies have shown that sexually transmitted diseases’ (STD) facilitate the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a clinic-based intervention consisting of STD control and condom promotion can help in preventing HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The chapter describes the project activities to illustrate the application of theoretical principles in increasing condom use among sex workers. An HIV/STD education and intervention project called Project Protect was implemented by the Department of STD Control in Singapore in 1992 to control the spread of STDs and AIDS among brothel-based sex workers. An epidemiological study on 806 brothel-based sex workers found a moderately strong association of STD risk with the number of clients and percentage of condom users. Health facilitators working at the public STD clinic were trained by the first author in the behavioral and environmental approach to STD/HIV/AIDS control.
