Examining women's vulnerability to HIV transmission and the impact of AIDS: the role of peer education/peer support in Lesotho's garment industry

Abstract

The Lesotho study was particularly designed to understand if there were differences between women who were trained in peer education and those who did not participate in the intervention in terms of their empowerment to reduce the risk of HIV infection and behaviour in relation to seeking HIV/AIDS related services. CARE and their partners implemented the Private Sector Coalition against AIDS in Lesotho (PSCAAL) intervention in the workplace and trained workers in peer education. Another similar intervention which garment workers were exposed to after PSCAAL was the Apparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight AIDS (ALAFA). Of particular interest to the study were the following: (1) The women's perceptions of HIV risk factors and vulnerabilities as garment industry workers; (2) their perception of empowerment with respect to sexual and reproductive health, especially HIV prevention in their sexual relationships; and (3) their level of agency in preventing HIV infection and transmission and seeking services for HIV and AIDS care.