Introduction

A research study was conducted by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine [LSHMT the implementing agency], Department of International Development [DFID, the funder], National AIDS Control Program [NACP the client], Nai Zindagi, Sindhi Institute of Urology and Transplant [SIUT], Organization for Social Development [OSD] and the DMC. The objective of the study is to undertake a national survey of reproductive tract infections and HIV amongst high risk and bridging population in Pakistan. This comprehensive study was planned to tackle questions of direct relevance for the NACP in its task of allocating scarce resources to achieve maximum impact on halting and reversing the spread of HIV and STI epidemics in Pakistan.

Staff Selection

For the Study, the following staff consisting on eleven people for the District Abbottabad was selected.    

1.       Dr.Noaman Siddiqui – Study Coordinator / Team Leader

2.       Dr. Hussain – Male Medical Officer

3.       Dr. Safina – Female Medical Officer

4.       Mr. Azhar Latif Awan – Accountant

5.       Mr. Tabarak Ahmad – Interviewer                             

6.       Mr. Mohammad Azhar – Interviewer

7.       Mr. Yasir Awan – Interviewer

8.       Ms. Sadaf Nazir – Interviewer

9.       Ms. Saima Khattak – Interviewer

10.   Mr. Tanveer Ahmad – Lab Technician

11.   Ms. Rukhsana – Staff Nurse

·Biological testing among all participants founded a low prevalence of STIs and HIV, No evidence of HIV infection was found among any of participants in Abbottabad.

· Found extremely low levels of knowledge about HIV, awareness and means of protection and related behaviors.

·Low levels of sharing injecting equipments amongst the injecting drug users and less awareness about sharing the syringes and other equipments.

·Many participants were found with history of STI Symptoms, most of them sought care both allopathic and non allopathic.

·Social and sexual networking among the people with high risk behaviors, many female sex workers reported that their husbands are intravenous drug users .Male and transgender sex workers reported forced first sex .

Outcomes and Applications of the study

·Study remained successful and highlighted the need and importance of tackling the vulnerability and risk that the subjects are facing, also emphasized on interventions and protection of basic rights of FSWs, MSWs, TSW and IDUs.

·Study was supposed to gather date that could be used to have mathematical models and statistical presentations to put some potential impact.

·This study showed the severity of risk and vulnerability of individual behaviors, also gave access to the background and environmental aspects.

·Study uncovered and highlighted the violation and abuse of basic human rights of FSW,MSW & Transgender sex workers and showed the this violence and abuse was committed by many people like spouses, clients, regular partners, family, community & sate actors.

Conclusions and Recommendations

 Vital to all recommendations is the need to recognize and respect the human rights of people, who are involved in behaviors which are discriminated against. Other recommendations are as under:

·The need for behavior change communication, the need for high quality and effective service provision.

·The need for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care for female and male sex workers.

·The need for awareness about needle and syringes exchange and health care.

 For further details please check out the following document:

Results of Behavioral and Biological Survey in Rawalpindi and Abbottabad, Pakistan – April 2008