Avahan-3 Longitudinal Survey

The phase-3 program was implemented across 75 Female sex worker (FSW) Community-led organizations (COs) and covered more than 1,00,000 FSWs across five states of India (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu). The main focus of Avahan-III is to reduce the vulnerabilities (including HIV risk) among FSWs by improving the access to financial security, social protection services, and to make the COs strong and sustainable. The longitudinal survey (2015-2017) was designed to measure different vulnerabilities and capture the key behavioral indicators (e.g. HIV risk behaviors, social protection, financial security, violence, institutional development etc.) among FSWs at the initiation of the program (2015) and after the completion of the program (2017). The eligibility criteria for inclusion in the study was, women, aged 18 or above, who engaged in consensual sex in exchange of money/payment in kind in the last one month. Along with the FSWs longitudinal study, COs level study was also done and information on COs was collected at two-time points (e.g. Baseline (2015) and Endline (2017)) among 38 FSWs COs, who have implemented the Avahn-3 program.