title: [Women abandoned by Social and Health Agencies. Challenge in the prevention of HIV/AIDS].
abstract: The present study examined the role of an intervention directed to link a group of sexual workers with social and health services. The subjects receptivity to use these services was measured by the degree of acceptance that the selected agencies provided to the participants of this study. The present investigation included two groups of subjects consisting of sexual workers and other women that were at high risk of prostitution because of their social circumstances. The sample consisted of 92 women residents of either the San Juan area of other towns from the eastern part of Puerto Rico. The method of focal group and a agencies directory was utilized during the intervention. In addition, the attempt to establish a helpful relationship between the subject and the agency was also incorporated to the investigation. The present findings showed the presence of a considerable social distance between the agencies and the subjects studies. The use of the studied intervention failed to be an efficient strategy. The authors recommend to explore different and new intervention modalities that elicit significant social change. Moreover, these interventions should innovate the current treatments aimed at the social problems related to sexual work.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y Evaluación Socio económica, Escuela Graduada de Salud Pública, Universidad de Puerto Rico, San Juan 00936-5067.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Irizarry Castro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alegría
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Santos-Ortiz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruz López
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011647:Puerto Rico; D011477:Sex Work; D012922:Social Change; D012947:Social Work; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014932:Women's Health Services