PSI enables sex workers to use condoms consistently with female condoms

The program targets sex workers in two priority provinces, with technical assistance provided to peer educators and outreach workers in seven priority provinces. PSI conducts research to inform intervention strategies and objectives, using a mix of targeted mass media and interpersonal communication activities to reach sex workers. The program promotes the use of male and female condoms, as well as water-based lubricants, and provides free samples during outreach sessions. PSI social markets these products to sex workers, with the goal of increasing consistent condom use. The program also includes promotion of voluntary counseling and HIV testing, as well as prevention of new injecting drug users among sex workers and safer drug injecting practices. In Hai Phong, a sex worker named Hoa has been working at a bar for the past three years. Hoa sells sex to support her family, including her sick husband and child. Despite understanding the risk of HIV infection from unprotected sex, Hoa has been willing to accept more money not to use a condom. However, after learning about female condoms from an Interpersonal Communicator (IPC) as part of the Song Dep program, Hoa became interested in using them. The IPC demonstrated how to use female condoms with a female pelvic model, and Hoa decided to give them a try. Now, Hoa always carries a female condom with her and has become an advocate for their use among her sex worker friends. Hoa instructs them on how to use female condoms properly and requests more from the IPC during outreach sessions. The Song Dep program is part of a comprehensive response to HIV prevention in high prevalence provinces in Vietnam. The program includes promotion of HIV-related products and services, as well as targeted behavior change communication messages among high-risk population groups, including sex workers and their male clients, injecting drug users, and men who have sex with men. PSI also promotes Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services to pregnant women.