Feminicídios de prostitutas no município de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil / Femicidio de prostitutas en el municipio Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil / Femicides of prostitutes in Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil

Este artigo analisa inquéritos policiais referentes a feminicídios de trabalhadoras sexuais ocorridos no município de Porto Alegre entre 2006 e 2010. Trata-se de um estudo de caso que investigou 12 relatos de feminicídios ocorridos com prostitutas e identificados em 94 inquéritos policiais referentes a assassinatos de mulheres, disponibilizados pela Delegacia de Homicídios do município. Os feminicídios foram classificados segundo três categorias: crimes da miséria, pois todas as mulheres mortas eram muito pobres; crimes de ódio, nos quais houve estupro, mutilações, tortura e uso extremado de instrumentos letais; e crimes sexuais, nos quais houve violência sexual. No período estudado, os feminicídios de trabalhadoras sexuais apresentaram frequência elevada em relação a outras mulheres. Essas mortes expressam o descaso e a misoginia da sociedade patriarcal e a pouca valia dessas vidas humanas. (AU)

Este artículo analiza investigaciones de la policía relativas a feminicidios de trabajadoras sexuales habidos en el municipio de Porto Alegre entre 2006 y 2010. Se trata de un estudio de caso que investigó 12 relatos de feminicidios ocurrido con prostitutas e identificados en 94 investigaciones de la policía referentes a asesinatos de mujeres, puestos a disposición por la Comisaría de Homicidios del municipio. Los feminicidios se clasificaron en tres categorías: crímenes de la miseria, puesto que todas las mujeres muertas eran muy pobres; crímenes de odio, en los cuales hubo violación, mutilaciones, tortura y uso extremado de instrumentos letales; y crímenes sexuales, en los que hubo violencia sexual. En el período estudiado, los feminicidios de trabajadoras sexuales presentaron una frecuencia elevada con relación a otras mujeres. Esas muertes expresan el poco caso y la misoginia de la sociedad patriarcal y el poco valor dado a esas vidas humanas. (AU)

This article presents the feminicides among sex workers in the city of Porto Alegre, in the years 2006-2010. A case study analyses 12 feminicides that occurred in prostitutes and were identified in 94 police inquiries, referring to the women murders available by the Police State Department of the city. Feminicides were characterized into three categories: crimes of misery, because all the women were very poor; hate crimes, in which were rape, mutilations, torture and extreme use of lethal instruments; and sexual crimes in which were sexual violence. During the period studied, feminicides by sexual workers were highly frequent in relation to other women. These deaths express the neglect and the misogyny of patriarchal society and the little value of these human lives. (AU)

Induced abortion among Brazilian female sex workers: a qualitative study / Aborto induzido entre prostitutas brasileiras: um estudo qualitativo

Prostitutes are vulnerable to unplanned pregnancies and abortions. In Brazil, abortion is a crime and there is no data about unsafe abortions for this population. The study describes how prostitutes perform illegal abortions and the health consequences thereof. Semi-structured interviews with 39 prostitutes from three cities in Brazil with previous induced abortion experience were conducted. Sixty-six abortions, with between one and eight occurrences per woman, were recorded. The majority of the cases resulted from sexual activity with clients. The inconsistent use of condoms with regular clients and the consumption of alcohol during work were indicated as the main causes of unplanned pregnancies. The main method to perform abortion was the intravaginal and oral use of misoprostol, acquired in pharmacies or on the black market. Invasive measures were less frequently reported, however with more serious health complications. The fear of complaint to the police meant that most women do not inform the health team regarding induced abortion. The majority of prostitutes aborted with the use of illegally-acquired misoprostol, ending abortion in a public hospital with infection and hemorrhagic complications. The data indicate the need for a public policy focusing on the reproductive health of prostitutes.

As prostitutas estão vulneráveis à gravidez não planejada e ao aborto. No Brasil, essa prática é crime e não há dados sobre aborto inseguro entre essa população. O estudo descreve como prostitutas abortam ilegalmente e o impacto à saúde. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com 39 prostitutas de três cidades do Brasil com experiência prévia em aborto induzido. Foram realizados 66 abortos, entre 1 e 8 ocorrências por mulher. A maioria dos casos resultaram de atividades sexuais com os clientes. O uso inconsistente dos condoms e o consumo de álcool na prostituição foram indicadas como as principais causas de gravidez não planejada. O principal método para abortar foi uso intravaginal e oral de misoprostol, adquirido em farmácias ou no mercado clandestino. Métodos invasivos foram menos frequentes, apesar de com mais sérias implicações à saúde. O medo de denúncia à polícia fez com que a maioria das mulheres não informasse à equipe de saúde sobre a indução do aborto. A maioria das prostitutas abortou com uso de misoprostol adquirido ilegalmente, finalizando o aborto em hospital público com quadros de infecção e complicações hemorrágicas. Os dados indicam a necessidade de uma política pública voltada à saúde reprodutiva das prostitutas.

Educação Popular em Saúde e participação de prostitutas: contribuições para a gestão participativa do SUS / Popular Education in Health and participation of prostitutes: contributions to participatory management of SUS

O Sistema Único de Saúde ancora-se em princípios como a universalidade, a equidade, a integralidade e a participação da sociedade na formulação e controle das políticas públicas de saúde. A Educação Popular em Saúde potencializa a participação popular de diferentes segmentos sociais e o desenvolvimento de mecanismos de escuta para apreender demandas e opiniões da população acerca dos serviços de saúde. Este artigo apresenta diferentes formas de participação popular protagonizadas pelo movimento social de prostitutas e seu engajamento na luta pelo direito à saúde, com intuito de descortinar contribuições que esse grupo social acrescenta à reflexão acerca das potencialidades e dificuldades de implementação de uma gestão participativa no SUS...

El Sistema Público de Salud Brasileño se basa en los principios de universalidad, equidad, integralidad y participación de la sociedad en la formulación y control de políticas de salud. La Educación Popular en Salud amplía la participación popular de los diferentes grupos sociales y lo desarrollo de mecanismos de escucha para captar sus demandas y opiniones acerca de los servicios de salud. Este artículo presenta diferentes formas de participación popular de lo movimiento social de prostitutas y su lucha por el derecho a la salud, a fin de descubrir sus contribuciones a la reflexión sobre las posibilidades y dificultades de implementación de una gestión participativa en el SUS...

The SUS – Brazilian public health system – is anchored in the principles of universality, equity, integrality and participation of society in the formulation and control of public health policies. The Popular Education and Health favors popular participation of different social groups and development of mechanisms for listening to apprehend their demands and opinions about the health services. This paper present different forms of popular participation by social movement of prostitutes and their engagement in the struggle for the right to health, in order to uncover contributions that social group adds to the reflection on the strengths and difficulties of develop a participatory management in the SUS...

An investigation of HIV-preventive behavior of female prostitutes in the city of ubon ratchathani.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the HIV-preventive behavior of a group of female prostitutes in the city of Ubon Ratchathani in Northeast Thailand. Methods: Basic knowledge and perceptions regarding HIV/AIDS were also assessed. The relationship between knowledge, perception, educational levels and HIV-preventive behavior were identified. A questionnaire was trialed before the survey proper, and content validation and reliability were established prior to the launch of the study (average a = 0.75). Results: Information was collected by the completion of a descriptive survey by 293 female prostitutes from 35 entertainment centres from February to April 2005. Data collected was subjected to statistical analysis. Results showed the participants had a good basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS and reasonable perceptions of the condition. Approximately one-third (37.5%) had sound behavior related to HIV infection, but an equivalent proportion (39%) needed to review their behavior. There was a statistically significant relationship between knowledge, perceptions, marital status and educational levels and HIV-preventive behavior (p<0.05). Conclusion: Conclusively, the prostitutes had an overall average HIV/AIDS knowledge, except some issues such as HIV/AIDS in pregnancy. Additionally, the HIV/AIDS perception was mainly good, whereas the HIV-preventive behavior was needed to be adjusted including; a regular condom use.

AIDS-related perceptions and condom use of prostitutes in Korea

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes of prostitutes on condom use from diverse 'sex markers' in Korea. The data were collected by interviewers at five different 'sex markets'. During March 1993, research assistants at the Institute of Health Services Research interviewed 371 prostitutes visiting sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics. Multiple regression method was used in identifying the determinants of condom use. The level of condom use was regressed on personal characteristics of prostitutes, AIDS-related perceptions, and market type. Prostitutes' level of condom use turned out to be different across the markets featuring diverse types of services and fees. Neither perceived vulnerability nor perceived seriousness of AIDS had significant effects on condom use. Our findings suggested that the many AIDS-preventive educational efforts by STD clinics are ineffective. Hence, individual STD clinics need to develop AIDS-preventive education programs which are suitable for the unique circumstances of their respective 'sex markets'.

The Evaluation of Efficacy of STI/HIV Preventive Intervention on Prostitntes and Ethical Issues / 中国医学伦理学

Objectives:To investigate the efficacy of STI/HIV preventive intervention on prostitutes and to discuss the ethical issues.Method:Anonymous questionnaire survey was used to collect the KAB data before and after health education. The data were analysed by using SPSS10.0 software. Results:140 prostitutes received health education and 87 prostitutes were evaluated after intervention.Both the condom knowledge and the condom use during sex increased significantly after health education(P

An Epidermiological Study on the Present Status of Venereal Disease among Prostitutes in Area Surronding Army Bases in Korea / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Following the Korean War, presence of foreign troops in Korea, economic difficulty and changing moral Standards have brought about the development of concentrations of prostitutes around army camps known as "villes". The problems with venereal disease among the prostitutes living in the villes and consequently among soldiers has been a problem which has perplexed both American and Korean health authorities. Research into the problems and efforts to solve the V.D. problem have yielded only fragmentary results. Fortunately, with the cooperation of the U.S. Army Research and Development Group, an extensive research project has been undertaken to determine the root causes and best methods to prevent venereal disease in the villes around American military installations. The villes around large military installations were selected as the target of this research. In particular, the Pyeongtaek ville, the Gunsan "Silver Town" area and the "Texas Town" area of Busan were studied. The study took two years, from April, 1973 to March, 1975. Microbiological and serological studies were undertaken to determine the venereal disease infection rate and the efficacy of different antibiotics both in treatment and in sensitivity tests. In addition to the microbiological and serological studies other factors related to venereal diseases control such as social environment, health facilities, knowledge of venereal disease and its control were studied. The following results were obtained. 1. An overall gonorrheal morbidity rate of 14.1% was found among the 1,282 girls studied. This shows e rather dramatic rise compared to other studies. The majority of the increase is attributed to an actual increase of the V.D. rate, but more precise methods of isolation and culture using Thayer-Martin media also contributed to the increase recorded. 2. In Pyeongtaek, a gonorrhea morbidity rate of 5.39/0 (endocervical), the lowest in any of the villes was recorded. The Pyeongtaek police of enforced hospitalization until cure was effected tended to eliminate contact with infected girls and also make the girls more aware of and concerned about prevention of venereal disease. The Texas town prostitutes in Busan had a 15.5% (endocervical) morbidity rate, the highest of any of the areas. This might be attributed to sexual contact with many foreign sailors. 3. In culturing for gonorrhea, it was found that rectal as well as cervical cultures are necessary. Rectal cultures revealed 71 cases(39.2% to total positive cases) some of which were negative by endocervical culture, and endocervical cultures yielded 181 positives among the 1,282 cases surveyed. 4. A total of 988 serological tests for syphilis were carried out. By the V.D.R.L. method, 11.5% reactive cases were recorded, Kolmer C-F showed 5.9% reactive and RPCF test showed a 4.3% reactive rate. The RPR card test was used to retest 151 persons who were demonstrated to be V.D.R.L. (in prostitutes and general entertainers) reactive and confirmatory reactive results were shown in 74.0% of the cases. The FTA-ABS test was done on 57 RPCF tes/; reactive cases and showed confirmatory reactive results in 96.5% of the cases. It was concluded that the RPR card test, although it is less sensitive than the V.D.R.L test was both simple and effective for use in mass screening. However it is suggested that RPR card test rectors be reconfirmed using either the RPCF test or the FTA-ABS test. 5. Penicillin treatment failed to cure 40% of the gonorrhea patients in clinical tests and 16% of the strains used in the sensitivity tests showed resistance to penicillin. Therefore, penicillin was judged to be rather ineffective against gonorrhea. Ampicillin, however, is still quite effective, and spectinomycin was the most effective antibiotic against gonorrhea. 6. The socio-medical study of prostitutes revealed that their average age 25.5 years and the average number of years of education was 6. 8, implying the completion of primary school. Living conditions were generally poor, for example, in Pyeongtaek, 37% of the girls did not have running water and depended on well water. Data on the toilet facilities revealed that 78% of the prostitutes living in the control area in Wanweoldong, Busan were still using traditional Korean privy style toilets, and in Pyeongtaek 91% also were using privy toilets. Over two-thirds of the prostitutes only bathed once or twice a week. Therefore, improvement of living conditions was considered a critical problem. 7. Generally speaking, the girls had some know/edge of syphilis and gonorrhea and the measures necessary to prevent these diseases. However, over half of the girls abused antibiotics in venereal disease treatment and prevention attempts and only 65% of them required their partner to use a condom. Therefore, much improvement is needed in this area. 8. A survey of knowledge about contraceptive measures showed that 96% of the girls had good knowledge about oral contraceptives, 90 knew about condoms and 88% had knowledge of the douche method. In actual practice however, 95% of the girls used the douche method and 62% used condoms for contraception.