PSI

Unsafe commercial sex is one of the primary drivers of the HIV epidemic in Vietnam. Among sex workers, HIV prevalence ranges from 5% and 20% (Source: IBBS 2009). That rate is 20 times higher among sex workers who inject drugs, since they face the dual risk of unsafe sexual practices and injecting drug use. Despite this staggering statistic, there were no programs targeting sex workers who injected drugs in Vietnam until 2008 when PSI partnered with Provincial AIDS Centers/Committee to develop a response.

With funding from USAID, PSI/Vietnam designed an innovative, evidence-based HIV prevention program targeting sex workers, including sex workers who were drug users. Though the risk of HIV transmission comes from injecting drug use, PSI/Vietnam also deliberately targets inhaling drug users with the program in an effort to reach the sex workers before they started injecting drugs. PSI’s program is the only one that takes a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention among this at-risk group, emphasizing the use of a range of HIV prevention products such as male condoms, female condoms and water-based lubricants, and HIV prevention services such as primary prevention of injecting drug use, screening and early treatment for sexually transmitted infections and voluntary HIV counseling and testing services.

Related content by category
Country: Vietnam, Asia / Pacific
Health Areas: HIV
Type: Fact Sheet
Behavior Type: Consistent Condom Use, Counseling and Testing, HIV