Abstract
The current paper examines the utilization of community mobilization as a strategic health communication technique in an intervention to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) rates among marginalized and at-risk populations such as commercial female sex workers in a red-light district in India. The research documents the struggles of a historically exploited community in India to mitigate its marginalization through implementation of a multilayered strategy of capacity building and economic empowerment. Semi-structured interviews of 37 commercial female sex workers were conducted in a red-light district of India. Qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts showed the prevalence of three themes which demonstrated the different facets of the community mobilization framework within the context of a health communication intervention. The findings of this research delineate how STI risk reduction as well as participation and empowerment can be achieved through a community-based health promotion project targeted towards commercial female sex workers within the context of their lived realities of marginalization and oppression.
Highlights
The current paper examines the utilization of community mobilization as a strategic health communication technique in an intervention to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) rates among marginalized and at-risk populations such as commercial female sex workers in a red-light district in India
The current paper explores the application of community mobilization as a strategic health communication technique in HIV/STI intervention among vulnerable and marginalized populations such as those at the Sonagachi Project
Stigmatization, violence, criminalization and marginalization contribute to adverse health outcomes suffered by commercial sex workers in India
Summary
The current paper explores the application of community mobilization as a strategic health communication technique in HIV/STI intervention among vulnerable and marginalized populations such as those at the Sonagachi Project. It is examined how the utilization of techniques such as peer outreach education and communication, stakeholder negotiation and multiple level capacity building can create a strategic process of community-based communication that can promote HIV/STI risk reduction and empower the sex workers. It is analyzed how HIV prevention through the community can incorporate behavior change communication with a focus on the wider context that increases HIV/STI risk, including existing institutional inequalities and structural oppression
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