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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Apr 1:161:21-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.12.037. Epub 2016 Jan 22.

The impact of an alcohol harm reduction intervention on interpersonal violence and engagement in sex work among female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya: Results from a randomized controlled trial

Angela M Parcesepe  1 , Kelly L L Engle  2 , Sandra L Martin  3 , Sherri Green  3 , William Sinkele  4 , Chirayath Suchindran  5 , Ilene S Speizer  3 , Peter Mwarogo  6 , Nzioki Kingola  7
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The impact of an alcohol harm reduction intervention on interpersonal violence and engagement in sex work among female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya: Results from a randomized controlled trial

Angela M Parcesepe et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. .

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate whether an alcohol harm reduction intervention was associated with reduced interpersonal violence or engagement in sex work among female sex workers (FSWs) in Mombasa, Kenya.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: HIV prevention drop-in centers in Mombasa, Kenya.

Participants: 818 women 18 or older in Mombasa who visited HIV prevention drop-in centers, were moderate-risk drinkers and engaged in transactional sex in past six months (410 and 408 in intervention and control arms, respectively).

Intervention: 6 session alcohol harm reduction intervention.

Comparator: 6 session non-alcohol related nutrition intervention.

Measurements: In-person interviews were conducted at enrollment, immediately post-intervention and 6-months post-intervention. General linear mixed models examined associations between intervention assignment and recent violence (physical violence, verbal abuse, and being robbed in the past 30 days) from paying and non-paying sex partners and engagement in sex work in the past 30 days.

Findings: The alcohol intervention was associated with statistically significant decreases in physical violence from paying partners at 6 months post-intervention and verbal abuse from paying partners immediately post-intervention and 6-months post-intervention. Those assigned to the alcohol intervention had significantly reduced odds of engaging in sex work immediately post-intervention and 6-months post-intervention.

Conclusions: The alcohol intervention was associated with reductions in some forms of violence and with reductions in engagement in sex work among FSWs in Mombasa, Kenya.

Keywords: Alcohol harm reduction; HIV; Sex work; Violence.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trial Profile. From L'Engle et al., 2014
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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