Resumen

FAAS, L; PERNIA, N  y  RODRIGUEZ-ACOSTA, A. Venezuela - the next frontier for HIV/AIDS: What about female protection?. RFM [online]. 2005, vol.28, n.1, pp.40-49. ISSN 0798-0469.

CONTRASIDA (Non Government Organization) took a step in the fight against AIDS in Venezuela by introducing the female condom. One group that is particularly at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is the Female Commercial Sex Workers (FCSWs). They can unknowingly infect their clients who might, in turn, infect their wives/ partners. This is what is referred to as "the sexual network theory": people are connected by their sexual contacts, and therefore form contact-patterns of sexual networks. CONTRASIDA developed a questionnaire and implemented a project that reached 1,000 women-the majority of which FCSWs in Venezuela. In the context of "the sexual network theory" CONTRASIDA organized workshops for housewives, female students and professionals. The study indicated wide spread acceptability of this barrier method by all the female populations in the project, as an effective instrument in the fight against HIV and other sexual transmitted diseases.

Palabras clave : AIDS; Female condom; FCSWs; Sexual transmitted diseases; Sexual diseases control; Venezuela.