Increasing safer sexual behavior among Lao kathoy

[Felix]

Increasing safer sexual behavior among Lao kathoy through an integrated social marketing approach.
Longfield K, Panyanouvong X, Chen J, Kays MB.
Population Services International
published in BMC Public Health
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22087632

BACKGROUND:
Although HIV prevalence has remained low in Laos thus far, there is reason to be concerned that Lao male-to-female (MtF) transgender persons (kathoy) and their partners may facilitate the spread of HIV. Little is known about how to most effectively reach kathoy with HIV prevention programming. This paper evaluates an intervention with Lao kathoy with the objective of increasing safe sex with regular and casual partners.

METHODS:
Quantitative surveys were administered in November 2004 (n = 288) and June 2006 (n = 415) using time location sampling at venues where kathoy were known to congregate. Respondents were aged 15-35 and from three urban centers in Laos. UNIANOVA tests were used to compare baseline and follow-up survey data and to evaluate the impact of PSI's kathoy-specific interventions on items that changed significantly over time.