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M.A. Carrasco, C. Kennedy, C. Barrington, M. Perez, Y. Donastorg , D. Kerrigan

This study explores the use of social cohesion as a strategy to address HIV and sex work-related stigma among female sex workers (FSW) living with HIV in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The qualitative sub-study includes interviews and focus groups with 34 FSW, documenting their experiences with stigma and the role of social cohesion in resisting and subverting oppressive norms. The findings highlight the importance of creating safe spaces where FSW can openly talk about their HIV status without shame, leading to greater empowerment and support within the community.

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M.A. Carrasco, C. Kennedy, C. Barrington, M. Perez, Y. Donastorg , D. Kerrigan

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  1. “We talk, we do not have shame:” Reducing HIV and sex work stigma through social cohesion among FSW living with HIV in the Dominican Republic M.A. Carrasco, C. Kennedy, C. Barrington, M. Perez, Y. Donastorg, D. Kerrigan

  2. Background • HIV prevalence • Dominican Republic: 4.7% compared to 0.7% in general population

  3. Female sex workers in the Dominican Republic

  4. Parent Study: AbriendoPuertas(Opening Doors) • Objective: Initial feasibility and effects of multi-level intervention to improve health and well being of FSW living with HIV in Santo Domingo • Partnership: JHU, MODEMU, COIN, and IDCP

  5. Components Individual Interpersonal Environmental Structural

  6. To qualitatively explore social cohesion as a strategy to address HIV and sex work-related stigma among FSW living with HIV in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

  7. Methods • Qualitative sub-study among 34 FSW (from a cohort of 228) • 23 interviews, 2 focus groups • Stratified sample (casa abierta participation) • Thematic content analysis • All data transcribed • Inductive/deductive coding

  8. Theoretical background Social Cohesion

  9. What is social cohesion? • Social cohesion entails trust, solidarity, and mutual aid • It is seen as a first step to community mobilization to claim rights and entitlements • At the center of community empowerment processes

  10. What is stigma? Stigma = deeply discrediting mark Stigma = social process underlined by power relations in society Layered stigma = HIV stigma + other stigmas

  11. Stigma and Foucault’s ideas about power Stigma as a social process underlined by power dynamics in society

  12. Foucault’s ideas about the power over life

  13. Foucault’s ideas about power used to understand STIGMA HIV stigma = strategy to enforce social norms around sexuality and personal responsibility for one’s body and health in order to maintain the social order. Marginalization (resulting from stigma) = strategy to discipline those who have engaged in behaviours that are deemed to violate established norms and threaten the social order

  14. Disciplinary power

  15. Resistance to power Power generates the opportunity for resistance Resistance (micro-subversions) = try not to be governed quite so much

  16. Disallowing life: self-disciplining through the internalization of “the gaze” • Disallowing life: Social disciplining through marginalization and normalization of violence • Resisting and subverting oppressive norms: Reconstructing identity through social cohesion

  17. Results 1.Disallowing life: self-disciplining through the internalization of “the gaze” Depression kills… When you are depressed because of your HIV status you lose your appetite, you obsess thinking about that disease [AIDS] all the time and you do not eat. After I was diagnosed I became extremely thin.—Teresa.

  18. Results 1. Disallowing life: self-disciplining… I did not know [before participating in AbriendoPuertas] that there should not be distinctions between a sex worker and another woman… Both should be treated with respect.—Sara

  19. Results 2. Disallowing life: Social disciplining through marginalization and normalization of violence I feel discriminated because I am a person, an intelligent woman who deserves a good job, and who should not have had to go through some of the things I have gone through. But here you are discriminated; you are denied a job because of living with HIV. There are many times when you want to apply for a job, you go to apply and they ask you for lab tests. I feel very bad because the people who are hiring hand you a piece of paper and they tell you: “go get these lab tests done!” And no, they don’t give you a job opportunity and the possibility to improve yourself, all because you are living with HIV.—Ines

  20. Results 3. Resisting and subverting oppressive norms: Reconstructing identity through social cohesion Since attending casasabiertas, I now belong to that family. [At the casasabiertas] we talk, we do not have shame. If I tell the woman next to me: “Listen, I am positive.” She will tell me: “me too.” But, with an outsider, if I tell him: “I am positive,” he will likely not treat me like one of my compañeras.—Elena.

  21. Results 3. Resisting and subverting oppressive norms… I tell myself the truth: “I am HIV positive and I am going to die when God wants it, not when the disease decides it!” Those are words that I learned here, the other women [at casasabiertas] taught me this... I was living in a very dark world [before participating in AbriendoPuertas]. When people called me out and insulted me: “oh God, that woman has AIDS”… when people told me that, I used to feel offended. But now I don’t care what people tell me. I tell them: “Mi amor [Honey], lucky me because there is treatment for that [HIV]!!”— Marisol.

  22. Results 3. Resisting and subverting oppressive norms… Power is you being able to help others like in my case, I already had to help a number of people who confide in me and confess that they are sick, that they have this problem [HIV], that they don’t feel well. And, I go to the center where I am getting my medication and I take them there because for me this is very important. –Kathy

  23. Discussion • Emphasis in the field on addressing individual experiences of HIV stigma • Socio-cognitive strategies are limited to the extent that they do not address the underlying power dynamics fueling stigma • Social cohesion provided safe psychosocial space to develop, repeat, and practice de-stigmatized narratives to address layered stigma

  24. Strategies to address STIGMA Provide safe spaces to strengthen social cohesion and challenge stigma through developing new narratives and practices Embed stigma reduction strategies into ongoing HIV prevention, treatment and care programs. Implement multi-level interventions that address multiple sources and forms of stigma

  25. Thank you! The study was implemented by USAID | Project SEARCH, Task Order No.2, which is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under Contract No. GHH-I-00-07-00032-00, beginning September 30, 2008, and supported by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The Research to Prevention (R2P) Project is led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health and managed by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (CCP). The views in this study do not represent those of USAID or of the US Government.

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