HST for Female Sex Workers/Drug Users in Kazakhstan

The intervention arm has 4 sessions facilitated one-on-one by trained staff and lasting \~40 minutes. The first session focuses on establishing rapport, assessing HIV risk, and educating/training participants on HIV self-testing/PEP/PrEP. The second session on peer education/training, barriers to and facilitators of testing, and supporting peers in receiving reactive and/or indeterminate HIV test results, as well as self-care. The third session on stigma and discrimination and techniques to cope with and resist stigma. The final session is a culminating one focused on reviewing key skills and health promotion planning conducted in first three sessions. The intervention arm applies anti-intersectional stigma, empowerment, and harm reduction approaches. All participants will receive/have access to HIV self-test kits every three months.

The control arm has 4 sessions via one-on-one facilitation by a trained facilitator and lasting \~40 minutes. It includes basic information on self-screening for common adverse health conditions among women in Kazakhstan, including STIs and HIV, as well as information on testing and risk reduction. All participants will receive/have access to HIV self-test kits every three months.