Taxis used to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in China

A programme in China is attempting to reach the clients of sex workers through the taxis that take them to and from an entertainment area by training the drivers in a technique that enables them to identify the clients of sex workers and then to promote condom use to them.  

It draws on the typically friendly relationship between driver and passenger as part of an effort to use interpersonal communication to increase HIV/AIDS awareness and informed demand for condoms.

Armed with creative HIV/AIDS print materials prominently displayed in the taxi, drivers engage passengers in a discussion of the merits of HIV/AIDS prevention. Evaluation results show that the intervention has increased HIV/AIDS knowledge and the willingness of taxi drivers to promote condoms. The percentage of drivers who knew that HIV cannot be transmitted by sharing food with someone grew from 19% to 77% over the first year of the programme.

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Contact:
Clancy Broxton
Email: cbroxton@psi.org or info@psi.org