Horizons Projects | Expanding Workplace HIV/STI Prevention Activities for Migrant Construction Workers

HORIZONS PROJECT
Expanding Workplace HIV/STI Prevention Activities for Migrant Construction Workers

This study, conducted at a construction worksite in Ho Mo Minh City, Vietnam, evaluated the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two workplace programs: a new peer-educator (PE) approach versus the existing approach that utilizes visiting health communicators (HCs).

Key findings included:

PEs contacted more workers and distributed more condoms than HCs.
Although turnover among both groups was a problem, PEs had better retention rates than HCs, and PEs continued program activities at new work sites.
PEs’ comfort levels in discussing sexual topics and knowledge about HIV and AIDS greatly improved over time and equaled or surpassed those of HCs at follow-up.
Knowledge increased for both groups of workers, but diffusion of information to workers who had not been exposed to the programs was greater at the PE sites than the HC sites.
There were statistically significant improvements in key outcomes among exposed workers in both groups, although improvements in several variables were greater at PE sites.
There is some evidence of increased condom use, although workers reported low levels of sexual risk behavior.
Cost per worker reached was lower for the PE program than the HC program.
Support of management was key, and management became involved for varied reasons.

Given these findings, local authorities decided to focus their efforts on the PE program. These findings should also help inform future efforts to scale up and improve the sustainability of these programs in Vietnam, as well as provide global lessons regarding workplace HIV and AIDS interventions.

Location

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Duration

May 2000–January 2003

Horizons and Population Council researchers

Julie Pulerwitz, Philip Guest, Ann Levin, Vu Ngoc Bao

(For more information about this study, please contact horizons@popcouncil.org.)

Non-Council collaborators

Do Van Bingh, Surachai Panakitsuwan, Pham Thi Dan Linh, Anthony Pramualratana, Tran Cong Binh, Jamie Uhrig (consultants)

Lisa Messersmith (The Ford Foundation)

Duong Xuan Dinh (Ho Chi Minh City Labor Union)

Tran Thi Kim Xuyen (Ho Chi Minh City National University, College of Social Sciences & Humanities)

Le Thuy Lan Thao (Ho Chi Minh City Standing AIDS Bureau)

Donors

US Agency for International Development

The Ford Foundation

Publications/Resources
Horizons and Population Council researchers' names appear in boldface type.

2003
Dadian, Margaret. "Reaching highly mobile workers with HIV/AIDS prevention programs: Vietnam-based study examines impact of peer educations, motivating management," Horizons Report, June. Washington, DC: Population Council. (Contact horizons@popcouncil.org for a copy)

Vu Ngoc Bao, Philip Guest, Julie Pulerwitz, Le Thuy Lan Thao, Duong Xuan Dinh, Tran Thi Kim Xuyen, and Ann Levin. "Expanding workplace HIV/AIDS prevention programs for a highly mobile population," Horizons Research Summary. Washington, DC: Population Council. (full text)

―――. "Expanding workplace HIV/AIDS prevention activities for a highly mobile population: Construction workers in Ho Chi Minh City," Horizons Final Report. Washington, DC: Population Council. (PDF)