6 Programme Management and Organizational Capacity-building
Box 6.4
Mapping, size estimation and micro-planning
Mapping and size estimation is a multi-stage process, focusing increasingly on local levels to refine the information and make it more accurate.( See also Figure 6.5.) Mapping should always be done discreetly so as not to draw undue attention to the activity.
First stage:“ Where in the country does a significant amount of sex work occur?” To determine where services should be established, a central-level planner must first understand where sex workers are located. This information may be obtained by interviewing police in urban areas, health providers, and representatives of industries that attract a large number of male workers( extraction, construction, seasonal agriculture, etc.). An approximate number of sex workers should be obtained for each identified area in order to focus interventions initially on the locations with the largest number.
Second stage:“ How many sex workers are operating in this municipality / area, and where?” Once the general geographic area is known, more detailed mapping and size estimation may be done. This exercise can be an adaptation of the PLACE method( Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts— see Section 6.8) or Participatory Site Assessments, depending on the level of sex worker involvement in the mapping and size estimation process.
• First phase: Local key informants( police, taxi drivers, NGO workers, truckers) are interviewed to identify where sex workers meet clients. Sex workers who are willing to assist may also be recruited to help list sites where sex work is solicited.
• Second phase: Locations identified by multiple informants or described as having large numbers of sex workers are investigated further. Detailed information is sought from sex workers on the number of sex workers by time of day, specific places where sex workers gather and additional areas near the location where other sex workers may be found.( The purpose of asking for additional locations is to find any unknown sites not identified by key informants in the first phase.)
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Depending on the relationship with the broader sex work community in the areas, the findings may be validated by presenting and discussing them with the community.
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Maps showing local landmarks and sex work locations may be prepared, either on paper or using electronic equipment, such as global positioning systems( GPS) or geographic information systems( GIS).( This information should be kept strictly confidential because of the potential for serious harm should law enforcement authorities gain access to and misuse it.)
The programme uses this information in close consultation with the community to decide where service points, such as safe spaces( drop-in centres) and clinics, should be located. Other clinics may be listed and mapped to establish referral relationships. The programme design is further refined and informed by sex workers who describe the locations, hours, habits and other information that will determine when, where and how services are set up.
Third stage:“ Who are the sex workers and what is their risk and vulnerability?” In this stage, social network maps are used to identify precisely who may be reached by individual community outreach workers. and to further inform local planning, while including sex worker’ s values and preferences. Full details can be found in Chapter 3, Section 3.2.2 part A.
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