Event: Launch of Risky Business? HIV Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior among At-Risk Mobile Workers in Turkey
Date: December 6th, 2010 Time: 09:30 - 12:00 pm
Place: Swiss Hotel, Ankara, Turkey

Background Information

On December 6, the World Bank, Hacettepe Training Research and Service Foundation, UN HIV/AIDS Joint Programme in Turkey, and the Turkish Ministry of Health will launch a joint report entitled, Risky Business? HIV Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior among At-Risk Mobile Workers in Turkey. This is the first study in Turkey to be conducted among mobile workers, a group long thought to be at-risk for HIV infection as clients of sex workers.

Turkey remains a very low HIV prevalence country, but the number of HIV/AIDS cases has been increasing in recent years.  HIV is concentrated among most-at-risk populations but there are concerns that it may spread, particularly through heterosexual transmission with sex workers.  The report was undertaken at the request of the Turkish Ministry of Health and seeks to inform future policy and research on the issue.  It concludes with key recommendations revolving around better evidence and surveillance; increase behavioral change and condom use; and continue to improve voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) and sexually transmitted infection (STI) services.

The launch will include participants from various stakeholder groups, including the Government, National AIDS Commission, civil society, international organizations, private sector, and relevant communities.

For additional information, please contact: Tunya Celasin, tcelasin@worldbank.org, tel. +90-312-459-8343

Draft Agenda