Transcript Document
HIV Prevention & Health Promotion for
Asian Women Working at Massage
Parlors in San Francisco
Health Project for Asian Women (HPAW)
Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS)
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Objectives
To describe drug use and HIV-related risk behaviors
among Asian masseuses at Asian massage parlors in
San Francisco
To provide women’s health and HIV/AIDS education to
masseuses as well as owners/managers of parlors
To implement and evaluate the intervention programs
for masseuses and owners/managers to increase
masseuses’ protective behaviors against HIV/STIs and
drug abuse
Background
Asian Massage Parlors in San Francisco
Identified 25 Massage
parlors where masseuses
exchanged sex for money
in the Tenderloin area
12 Vietnamese Owned
10 Korean Owned
3 Chinese Owned
Background
Asian Masseuses in San Francisco
Underserved
population
Lack of access to
health care services
Immigrants
Monolingual
Inconsistent condom
use with clients and
private partners
Harmful practices to
women’s heath
Substance use due
to highly stressful job
Multiple sex partners
HPAW is……
Service Component
Daily outreach activities
Research Component
HIV/AIDS and Drug abuse intervention
study
Masseuse’s Counseling Program
Owner’s Education Program
Outreach Effort
Clinic escort
Safer sex kits distribution
Health education
Translation
Referral services
Advocating
Outreach Efforts - Challenges
Highly mobilized population
Stigmatized population
Owners/Managers
acceptance
Demographic changes in
business
Outreach Efforts - Challenges
Frequent disruptions by
customers
Unfamiliarity with
research
Law enforcement
Limited English
proficiency
Outreach Effort – Lesson & Learned
Consistent outreach
Clinic escorts
Safer sex kits distribution
Respect toward massage
parlor business
Outreach Effort – Lesson & Learned
Recruitment through
masseuses’ referrals
Flexibility
Confrontation
Intervention Programs
Recruitment through Daily Outreach
Intervention Group
Control Group
Pre-test
Counseling Program
Post-test
6 month Follow-up
Counseling Program
1st Session
Objectives
Assess &
prioritize
needs
Procedures
Outcomes
Needs Assessment Measure baseline
attitudes toward
Health Status
health and well-being
Social Network
Services Utilization
Family Issues
Counseling Program
2nd Session
Objectives
Increase
knowledge
about
general
women’s
health &
STDs/HIV
Procedures
Informative session
Douching
Women’s health
Birth control method
Symptoms of HIV/STDs
Challenges for safe sex
Referrals/ Resources
Outcomes
Increase women’s
health & HIV/STDs
knowledge
Increase
knowledge & use of
cultural sensitive
CBOs
Counseling Program
3rd Session
Objectives
Increase
psychosocial skills
Procedures
Discussion
Stress Reduction
Social Skills
Other concerns
Outcomes
Increase positive
coping strategies
Higher self-esteem
Enhance sense of
control toward stress
Referrals/ Resources Higher level of
adjustment to living in US
Increase knowledge &
use of cultural sensitive
CBOs
HPAW Staff
Principal Investigator: Tooru Nemoto, Ph.D.
Project Director: Mariko Iwamoto, M.A.
Project Assistant: Samantha Witt
Health Educators: Ha Chu
Yon-Hee Kim
Yoonjung Kim
Phuong Ngo
Thank you!
supported by
the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Grant No: R01DA13896