Female Garment Workers’ Understandings of HIV in Bangladesh

Abstract

As part of a larger study this study reviewed the current state of knowledge of female garment workers’ (FGWs) experiences and their personal understandings of their human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) experiences in Bangladesh. Relevant literature on FGWs health on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV within Bangladesh published between 1990 and 2020 was carried out through a critical review. Relevant information from the selected articles was extracted and presented to contribute to the existing literature in the form of new findings and also critically interpret existing findings. The themes and keywords were examined in the abstract and title of literature extracted using the aforementioned search engines. Major causes of HIV vulnerability of FGWs are gender inequality, multiple sex partners, drug abuse and rape violence. These poor FGWs are not informed about contraceptive methods, safe sex, menstruation and hygiene and HIV infection due to low literacy rate. Empowering FGWs through formal health education on HIV is essential, including prevention of work place violence (WPV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) related training. Community leaders, private sector involvement and business in HIV needs to be encouraged. Current, surveillance has been conducted on key population, therefore outcome of this study recommend a large-scale study on FGWs in urban areas of Bangladesh to guide policymakers and researchers on how to prevent HIV and improve FGWs' health.