Capacity Building of Law Enforcement Officers to Handle Sex Workers In Sri Lanka H.M.J.P. Vidanapathirana 1 M. Sangeeth 2 1 National HIV/AIDS Prevention Project, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 2 Posittive Women Net Work, Community Based Organization, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Middle income country Population20 m Total fertility rate2.2 Literacy rate91 Life expectancy74 Per capita incomeUSD 1990 Reported HIV/AIDS cases end of 2012 March 1503 Estimated HIV/AIDS CASES 3000 HIV/AIDS prevalence < 0.1% Sex worker population 40,000

Sex in private is not an offence. Adultery also not an offence Vagrants ordinance soliciting sex is an offence in public places. Sex workers are been arrested by police due to soliciting and selling sex under the vagrants ordinance in Sri Lanka. Background For The Police Interventions

Background For The Study It has been observed that there were some misunderstandings about condoms and that they are not considered as a medical device Some evidence that sex workers are arrested by police while they are keeping condoms. NSACP implement different interventions for police personnel to get the commitment for National HIV prevention programme

To create an enabling environment for HIV prevention activities among most at risk populations, particularly sex workers. To prevent the arbitrary arrest of sex workers for condom possession To develop positive attitudes towards condoms as a medical device To improve harassment-free law enforcement practices for sex workers Background For The Police Interventions

Training Of Police Instructors Pre and post interventional study Three days participatory-based special training programme were conducted for 206 Island wide training instructors attached to police training colleges. Selection was done randomly and training given in 4 sessions

Objective Of The Study To assess the knowledge, attitude on HIV/AIDS and willingness to support the national HIV/AIDS plan while handling sex workers

Methodology The training module was developed and included with various sessions using different education methods Training Module was pre tested The pre and post test questionnaire was used to assess the - difference of knowledge - attitude - willingness to support the national HIV/AIDS plan while handling sex workers

Subject Areas Covered During The Training Sexuality Sexual challenges HIV/AIDS prevention STI Prevention Counseling Sex work and legal status of Sri Lanka Positive telling

Training Methods Role play Lecture discussions Brain storming Group work Case scenarios and role plays Participants questions and answering

Group work

Presentations After Group Work

Role Play Sessions

Positive Telling

Distributed Different Training Materials

Analysis Knowledge Score was developed and converted in to a percentage. Likert scale was used to assess the attitude

Results

Knowledge on Transmission, non transmission and prevention Non Transmission Prevention Transmission

Knowledge on STI

Attitude towards people living with HIV,MARPHS and condoms

Willingness %

Whether the implementation of HIV / AIDS prevention work disrupt their day today duties

Total knowledge score on HIV transmission, prevention and misconception of the police officers showed significant increase from 69.5(SD+16.1) at pre intervention stage to post intervention stage 86.6(SD ). Total attitude score on handling sex workers with the intention of HIV prevention showed significant increase from pre intervention to post intervention (P= 0.001). Results

Willingness to support the national HIV/AIDS plan while handling sex workers indicated significant increase from pre intervention to post intervention(P= ). All officers have positive attitude towards condoms, HIV infected persons and MRAPHS were improved after the intervention. Results

The special training was effective to improve the knowledge, attitudes about HIV/AIDS and improve the wiliness to support national HIV/AIDS plan while correct handling sex workers. It is recommended to provide necessary communication materials for training instructors in island wide to carry out continuous education for police officers. Conclusions

Harassments Free Healthy Sex Worker population