Health communication: evidence and challenges in HIV prevention among female sex workers in Maputo City, Mozambique

Abstract

Health communication is becoming increasingly relevant in the design and implementation of programmes that aim to contribute to the prevention and treatment of diseases in the population. This research aims to understand the health communication actions in the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among female sex workers (FSW) in Maputo city. A case study of qualitative nature was conducted with a sample of 150 FSW selected through key informants. The results indicate that sex work tends to start early, there is alcohol abuse, unprotected sex and lack of knowledge of HIV status by FSW. Health communication actions by peer educators gives priority only to the dissemination of information. It is a well-known fact that there is poor involvement of FSW in the design of health communication actions and in audience segmentation. The conclusion is that, to date, there has been no attempt to involve and learn about the characteristics and needs of the FSW to provide sessions that go beyond the dissemination of information, to structure community mobilization programs based on social networks of coexistence, and to break down the structural barriers that contribute to the spread of HIV in places where FSW are concentrated.