A Qualitative Assessment among Personnel Working in Community-Led Development Program Settings Regarding Sexualized Substance Use
Sexualized substance use (SSU) is the practice of psychotropic substance use before or during sex to increase sexual pleasure. The growing use of SSU has a strong association with sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Community health mobilizers (CHMs) are agents who assist in decreasing the globa...
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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author | Binata Marik Nupur Mahajan Rohit Sarkar Rochana Mitra Rajiv Dua Sumit Aggarwal |
author_facet | Binata Marik Nupur Mahajan Rohit Sarkar Rochana Mitra Rajiv Dua Sumit Aggarwal |
author_sort | Binata Marik |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Sexualized substance use (SSU) is the practice of psychotropic substance use before or during sex to increase sexual pleasure. The growing use of SSU has a strong association with sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Community health mobilizers (CHMs) are agents who assist in decreasing the global burden of disease in the communities they serve. They work as unit managers, counselors, or field workers. The managers and counselors have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, and field workers have a minimum of a higher secondary education. This study aimed to qualitatively assess the knowledge gaps regarding SSU among CHMs. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted in New Delhi, India with nineteen CHMs. Majority of the CHMs were men (<i>n</i> = 9, 47%) followed by transgender (TG) persons (TG females <i>n</i> = 5, 26.3%; TG males <i>n</i> = 1, 5.2%), and women (<i>n</i> = 4, 21.1%). Knowledge gaps were identified among the CHMs regarding different types of sexualized substances, drug procurement, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection prevention, and complex health issues associated with SSU. It suggested the need for periodic workshops and training for upgradation of existing knowledge and practices among the CHMs. This formative research may help social scientists to develop protocols for conducting multi-centric, community-based studies across the country for further validation and exploration. |
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issn | 2076-3425 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:26:19Z |
publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
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spelling | doaj.art-5e0ba258e1b54855aa4ae8f3f1a2bfe22023-11-24T07:50:18ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252022-11-011211159010.3390/brainsci12111590A Qualitative Assessment among Personnel Working in Community-Led Development Program Settings Regarding Sexualized Substance UseBinata Marik0Nupur Mahajan1Rohit Sarkar2Rochana Mitra3Rajiv Dua4Sumit Aggarwal5Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases (ECD), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-Headquarters, New Delhi 110029, IndiaDivision of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases (ECD), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-Headquarters, New Delhi 110029, IndiaIndia HIV/AIDS Alliance, Zuari House, 6, Kailash Colony, Extension, New Delhi 110048, IndiaIndia HIV/AIDS Alliance, Zuari House, 6, Kailash Colony, Extension, New Delhi 110048, IndiaIndia HIV/AIDS Alliance, Zuari House, 6, Kailash Colony, Extension, New Delhi 110048, IndiaDivision of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases (ECD), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-Headquarters, New Delhi 110029, IndiaSexualized substance use (SSU) is the practice of psychotropic substance use before or during sex to increase sexual pleasure. The growing use of SSU has a strong association with sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Community health mobilizers (CHMs) are agents who assist in decreasing the global burden of disease in the communities they serve. They work as unit managers, counselors, or field workers. The managers and counselors have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, and field workers have a minimum of a higher secondary education. This study aimed to qualitatively assess the knowledge gaps regarding SSU among CHMs. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted in New Delhi, India with nineteen CHMs. Majority of the CHMs were men (<i>n</i> = 9, 47%) followed by transgender (TG) persons (TG females <i>n</i> = 5, 26.3%; TG males <i>n</i> = 1, 5.2%), and women (<i>n</i> = 4, 21.1%). Knowledge gaps were identified among the CHMs regarding different types of sexualized substances, drug procurement, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection prevention, and complex health issues associated with SSU. It suggested the need for periodic workshops and training for upgradation of existing knowledge and practices among the CHMs. This formative research may help social scientists to develop protocols for conducting multi-centric, community-based studies across the country for further validation and exploration.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/11/1590community health mobilizers (CHMs)formative researchhuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)in-depth interviews (IDIs)sexually transmitted infections (STIs)transgender (TG) persons |
spellingShingle | Binata Marik Nupur Mahajan Rohit Sarkar Rochana Mitra Rajiv Dua Sumit Aggarwal A Qualitative Assessment among Personnel Working in Community-Led Development Program Settings Regarding Sexualized Substance Use Brain Sciences community health mobilizers (CHMs) formative research human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in-depth interviews (IDIs) sexually transmitted infections (STIs) transgender (TG) persons |
title | A Qualitative Assessment among Personnel Working in Community-Led Development Program Settings Regarding Sexualized Substance Use |
title_full | A Qualitative Assessment among Personnel Working in Community-Led Development Program Settings Regarding Sexualized Substance Use |
title_fullStr | A Qualitative Assessment among Personnel Working in Community-Led Development Program Settings Regarding Sexualized Substance Use |
title_full_unstemmed | A Qualitative Assessment among Personnel Working in Community-Led Development Program Settings Regarding Sexualized Substance Use |
title_short | A Qualitative Assessment among Personnel Working in Community-Led Development Program Settings Regarding Sexualized Substance Use |
title_sort | qualitative assessment among personnel working in community led development program settings regarding sexualized substance use |
topic | community health mobilizers (CHMs) formative research human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in-depth interviews (IDIs) sexually transmitted infections (STIs) transgender (TG) persons |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/11/1590 |
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