Laos (2005): Reasons for Non-Use of Condoms among Male-To-Female Transgender (Katoey)in Vientiane Capital, Lao P.D.R.

The specific objectives are to: 1. Understand the nature of transactional sex and its role in condom use; 2. Identify the circumstances under which non-consensual sex takes place and how it can interfere with condom use; 3. Identify beliefs and factors that influence the use of appropriate lubricant with condoms. Ultimately, this report aims to develop appropriate recommendations so that PSI/Laos can tailor its BCC strategy promoting the consistent and correct use of condoms/lubricant among katoey with every sexual partner, including both casual and regular partners. Eight transgender key informants recruited katoey participants from several sites including beauty salons, karaoke, discotheques, beer shops and schools in five districts of Vientiane. The recruiters distributed contact cards, collected telephone numbers and set up appointments by phone. There were forty-two self-identified, eligible katoey selected to be participants. Participants were divided into six groups for the FGD, with eight katoey in each group. Three of the groups were comprised of people ranging in age from 15 to 20 years old, and participants in the other three groups were slightly older, ranging in age from 21 to 30 years old. To minimize bias from existing relationships, effort was taken to separate participants in order to minimize the number of friends and acquaintances that were placed in the same group. All six FGDs were conducted at the Ministry of Education's guesthouse. This guesthouse has been used to conduct indoor tra inings for MSM several times and provides a friendly and confidential environment appropriate for FGDs. Two male-to-female katoey, including a moderator and a note-taker, were trained one week before the FGDs were conducted. After receiving the training, they worked together to pretest the moderator guide. The pretest familiarized the moderator with the protocol, and helped clarify vocabulary and inquiries on how the questions and prompts would help us collect information on the objectives of this qualitative research. All katoey participants agreed to be audio taped during the FGD and discussions typically lasted between one and one and a half hours. The note-takers transcribed the discussion from the audio tapes and reviewed the transcripts so that the comments recorded were correct. Incentives provided to all participants included a transportation reimbursement of 20,000 kip (approximately $2), snacks and soft drinks.本研究的具体目标为：1. 明晰性交易的本质及其在安全套使用中的作用；2. 明确非自愿性行为发生的情境，以及其如何对安全套使用造成干扰；3. 梳理影响安全套配套润滑剂合理使用的信念与影响因素。本报告最终旨在制定恰当的建议方案，以便PSI/Laos能够针对跨性别女性（katoey）制定行为改变沟通（Behavior Change Communication，简称BCC）策略，推动其在与任意性伴侣（包括临时性伴侣与固定性伴侣）发生性行为时，始终坚持正确使用安全套及润滑剂。 8名跨性别关键信息提供者作为招募人员，从万象市五个区县的美容美发店、卡拉OK厅、迪斯科舞厅、啤酒屋及学校等多个场所开展招募工作，最终共入选42名自我认同为符合条件的跨性别女性参与者。招募人员发放联系卡片、收集电话号码并通过电话预约访谈。 所有参与者被分为6个焦点小组讨论（Focus Group Discussion，简称FGD）小组，每组8名跨性别女性。其中3个小组的参与者年龄介于15至20岁之间，其余3个小组的参与者年龄稍长，为21至30岁。为尽量降低既有社交关系带来的偏倚，研究人员将参与者分开安排，以减少同一小组内好友或熟人的数量。 6场焦点小组讨论均在老挝教育部招待所开展。该招待所曾多次用于举办男男性行为者（Men who have Sex with Men，简称MSM）室内培训活动，可为焦点小组讨论提供友好且保密的适宜环境。 两名男跨女跨性别女性（其中1名担任主持人，1名担任记录员）在焦点小组讨论开展前一周接受了相关培训。培训结束后，二人共同对主持人指南进行了预测试。预测试环节帮助主持人熟悉研究流程，并明确了相关词汇与提问方式，以确保所提出的问题及提示能够助力本质性研究达成既定研究目标。 所有跨性别女性参与者均同意在焦点小组讨论过程中进行录音，每场讨论时长通常为1至1.5小时。记录员会根据录音带誊写讨论内容，并对转录文本进行核对，以确保所记录的评论准确无误。为所有参与者提供的激励措施包括20000老挝基普（kip，约合2美元）的交通补贴、零食与软饮。