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A study in Fiji has warned that creating an environment for HIV/AIDS preventative interventions is essential to combating the threat of the deadly virus.
A study by Heather Worth and Karen McMillan of the University of New South Wales noted that timely testing and treatment is a necessary component of HIV prevention.
However researchers warn that tougher legislation on sex workers may hurt the overall fight against AIDS.
“Rather than preventing sex work occurring, these changes will drive sex work underground, and will be detrimental to efforts to reduce HIV transmission risk," the study notes.
The study, funded by AusAID, is titled, 'Risky Business: Sex Work and HIV Prevention in Fiji.'
“Despite increasing media attention being directed at the issue, there are scant data on the conditions of sex work and on factors that impact on sex workers’ HIV risk behaviour... This research was designed to further an understanding of the underlying factors that generate vulnerability to HIV transmission among sex workers in Fiji,” the study added.
