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Abstract
Promoting safer sex practices amongst MSM youth through Youth Corners in Hyderabad, India
S.K. Pilli1, P.K. Gouthami2
Issues: Hyderabad like other cities in India, also has significant number of youth aged 21 and under. They are unmarried and also sexually active with males and sometimes with females too. Due to lack of Low education, lack of Money, Job and booze they opt for odd jobs like body massage, Sex work and others. They also participate in unsafe sexual activities.
Description: These youth often don’t identify themselves as MSM. They don’t have access to STI, Condom and other sexual health services. The Knowledge awareness amongst them on safer-sex practices are very low as they don’t identify their behaviour at risk and the sexual activity they take part is for money not desire. In drive to create awareness amongst these MSM youth. The field teams of mithrudu have started YOUTH-CORNERS. These YOUTH-CORNERS are small group meetings in the fields to share and express their problems and issues of concern in regard with health, Psychosexual, employment and family issues. Those who are having problems are identified and addressed individually. Regular awareness classes on Safer-sex issue are imparted to them regularly. A network of such youth is in the process of formation. In regard to address psychosexual issues counselling is provided to in group and one-to one basis.The knowledge levels of these youth increased to 85% and timely treatment for STI increased by 16%.
Lessons learned: Self assessment and sharing of problems would lead to timely solutions and towards collectivisation of groups. These can be used with different categories of MSM where issues can be addressed properly. Community based approach has to be adopted to implement this strategy as it works with more results.
Next steps: Detailed process documentation is being developed to be passed on to different partner projects across the country to adopt Corners. Funding for implementation has to acquired to increase the outreach through Corners.
AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
CDC0827
Suggested Citation
"S.K.Pilli, et al.
Promoting safer sex practices amongst MSM youth through Youth Corners in Hyderabad, India.
:
AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
CDC0827"
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