Social and Structural Constraints on Disclosure and Informed Consent for HIV Survey Research Involving Female Sex Workers and Their Bar Managers in the Philippines

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the ethical issues of female sex workers’ (FSWs) participation in HIV prevention research. Twenty female bar/spa workers and 10 venue managers in the Philippines underwent individual semi-structured interviews; three community advisory board meetings informed the study design and interpretation of findings. Results: Informed consent was constrained by perceived government coercion and skepticism that research results would translate into community benefits. Disclosure was constrained by distrust in confidentiality and perceived intrusiveness of survey questions. FSWs and managers were frustrated by the government's inability to stop police from using condoms as evidence of prostitution. Findings suggest HIV interventions move beyond didactic prevention workshops to include FSWs in intervention design and implementation, and to reduce social and structural constraints on participation.

Efficacy of an Educational Intervention to Increase Consent for HIV Testing in Rural Appalachia

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Peruvian Female Sex Workers’ Ethical Perspectives on Their Participation in an HPV Vaccine Clinical Trial

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Enhancing the Responsible Conduct of Sexual Health Prevention Research Across Global and Local Contexts: Training for Evidence-Based Research Ethics

“…The Sunflower Study was unique in providing all participants with HPV testing, treatment for those testing positive, and access to the vaccine for all testing negative. Despite differences in locale, a research focus on HIV versus HPV prevention, and experience participating in sexual health studies, participants’ ethically relevant concerns in many cases paralleled those reported in the Goldenberg et al study and in previous research conducted by RETI fellows (Reed, Khoshnood, Blankenship, & Fisher; 2014; Urada & Simmons, 2014). In relating their experiences, Brown and his colleagues found that FSWs reflected on both the perceived health benefits of participating in the study as well as fears about learning they might test positive for HPV, HIV, or other sexual health diseases.…”