Highlights
•Weekly study logistics conference calls
•Bi-monthly clinical supervision calls
•N=94 women screened; n=74 eligible and completed baseline survey
•8 groups of women randomized, 4 completed
•New working group developing with govt officials, police and service workers to “soften”
What are we learning?
•Women struggling with similar issues
•Strength of intervention: safe and supportive environment, quick to use resources and begin to organize and gain support
•“treated like a human being” “help me to see who I wish to be,” “get back in touch with myself.”
•Need for micro enterprise building and alternative employment training options laws regarding prostitution
Implications for Practice, Policy, and Research
- Findings from the current study suggest that women who exchange sex in Mongolia are at increased risk of experiencing violence than women from the general population
- Effect of low-impact interventions in resource poor settings
- The peer network has shown to be an important source of emotional support and physical survival
- Potential impact of limited support from professionals
- Impact of reducing alcohol use