The purpose of this study was to quickly assess the situation regarding conditions of service delivery and access to HIV prevention services by IDUs, FSWs, and MSM who were previously residing in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as well as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, but were forced to leave their homes and places of habitual residence due to the ongoing armed hostilities and military occupation.
The research project involved several milestone stages.
Stage 1. Preparatory Research Stage – collecting source data about clients from among internally displaced persons through telephone surveys of NGO managers, coordinators, or social workers – grantees of ICF “International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine” in all regions of Ukraine. Based on the data gathered at this stage of the project, NGOs dealing with the greatest number of new clients (IDU, FSW, MSM) were identified and selected as the most appropriate setting for further research efforts.
Stage 2. Collection of Empirical Sociological Data.
In order to meet the desired research objectives, the following research techniques were employed, as outlined below:
1) In-depth interviews with coordinators (managers), social workers of HIV prevention projects in the regions with new clients (IDU, FSW, MSM) serviced by NGOs. In total, twelve in-depth interviews were conducted for research purposes.
2) In-depth interviews with coordinators (managers) of HIV prevention projects in the regions affected by the ATO or in the temporarily occupied territory. In total, four in-depth interviews were conducted for research purposes.
3) Semi-structured interviews with NGO-based volunteers working with forced migrants (internally displaced persons). In total, 52 volunteers were interviewed.
4) Semi-structured interviews with NGO clients from among forced migrants (internally displaced persons). In total, 101 clients were interviewed.
5) Semi-structured interviews with FSWs from among forced migrants (internally displaced persons), who reported receiving HIV-related services in the occupied territories, even though they are not NGO clients as of today’s date. In total, 6 FSWs were interviewed.
Other researches
Monitoring the social integration of IDPs into host communities: methodology development, testing and implementation
Research on the implementation of e-democracy tools through the E-DEM platform
Impact evaluation of the project “Improving HIV treatment adherence of HIV+ and at-risk women through holistic emergency support and care during the Ukraine humanitarian crisis”