Reducing Unintended Pregnancies Among Female Sex Workers In Kenya Using MHealth: A Cluster Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$730,028.00
Summary
This research in Kenya aims to improve the health of female sex workers, their children and their partners through increasing uptake of family planning methods. This cluster randomised controlled trial will generate valuable evidence to inform policies and public health interventions on the effectiveness of a mobile phone delivered intervention aiming to increase sexual and reproductive health service uptake among hard-to-reach and marginalized sex workers in resource-limited settings.
Preventing Infectious Disease In Vulnerable Populations: Smarter Surveillance, Enhanced Epidemiology And Targeted Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,010.00
Summary
Vulnerable populations, including people who inject drugs and female sex workers, are susceptible to infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C. Preventing the transmission of these infections presents major challenges. The proposed research will 1) develop innovative approaches to identifying and understanding infectious disease in vulnerable populations; 2) improve our responses by designing and testing new approaches to prevention; and 3) reduce associated morbidity and mortality.
Overall Australia provides an ideal environment for research into the public health effects of prostitution laws. The eight states and territories effectively provide eight 'natural experiments' in legal responses to prostitution - ranging from prohibition through almost complete decriminalisation, with varying degrees of regulation and control in between these extremes. This project will examine how different legal and police responses to prostitution may affect the health of sex workers. These ....Overall Australia provides an ideal environment for research into the public health effects of prostitution laws. The eight states and territories effectively provide eight 'natural experiments' in legal responses to prostitution - ranging from prohibition through almost complete decriminalisation, with varying degrees of regulation and control in between these extremes. This project will examine how different legal and police responses to prostitution may affect the health of sex workers. These variable legal contexts guarantee international interest in this research. in addition this research team has extensive experience - dating back up to 20 years - in successfully researching even the most marginalised elements of the sex industry in Australia. By the conclusion of the project we will have assessed sex worker access to health promotion programs, including health services, in three states. We will be able to provide authorities with insights into the effects of prostitution laws and the enforcement of those laws on the health and welfare of sex workers. This finding will inform future interventions with sex industries in Australia and globally.Read moreRead less
Health Outcomes And Service Utilisation In A Cohort Of People Who Inject Drugs, Sex Workers And At-risk Youth - A Record Linkage Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,333.00
Summary
People who inject drugs and sex workers endure poorer health and a disproportionate burden of disease than the general population. Improving health in these marginalised populations remains a challenge. To identify demographic, behavioural and clinical factors that predict health outcomes we will undertake a retrospective record linkage study in a cohort of 40000 primary care clinic attendees from a socially disadvantaged urban population with high prevalence of injecting drug use and sex work.