[Bar attendants as health educators. Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases in high-risk areas]. / Bararbeidere som helseopplysere. Forebygging av seksuelt overføte sykdommer i områder med høy risiko.

In Tanzania, a nation-wide programme against the spread of HIV is targeting villages along the main highways, mining and construction centres, and border towns. These places contain a high number of bars and guest houses, where female bar attendants offer sexual favours to obtain a minimum income for survival. The strategy is to elect and educate bar workers as "peer health educators", motivate them to reduce the number of sexual partners, to distribute and promote use of condoms, and to establish easier access to treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. The activities are monitored and supervised through regular visits by trained health behaviour officers. The Tanzanian-Norwegian AIDS project has implemented the programme in Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions.