Behavior Change and Communication (BCC) on HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health (RH) for Factory Workers:  (Garment Factory, Shoe Factory, Fish Processing factory, Beer Factory, Rubber Plantation, and Construction workers)

The Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia “RHAC” started implementing a Work Place Based RH program in 1996. The program was implemented in 4 Factories in Phnom Penh, providing training to health care providers and selected factory workers (volunteers). After training, RHAC supplied contraceptives and education materials to the volunteers to enable them to distribute contraceptives and related educational information in their work places.

In 1998 RHAC worked with CARE International, implementing a project on “Reproductive and Sexual health for factory-based health programs”, which provided technical assistance, trained factory based clinic staffs and built capacity of referral networks.

In 2001 RHAC, together with the Cambodian Labor organization (CLO), implemented a joint project called “Women's Health Clinics for Garment Factory Workers”. Through this project, RHAC established 3 health posts and provided basic training to CLO staffs on reproductive health, primary health care and the “participatory learning activities” method, to enable them to increase the awareness of factory workers and refer them to RHAC health posts, as needed.

Currently (in 2008), the program is being implemented in a total of 26 factories and 4 rubber plantations, reaching approximately 34,848 workers in Phnom Penh and  Kampong Chham province.   

The project’s primary aims are to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and STIs among the target groups by raising awareness, promoting safer sex practices, ensuring availability of condoms and increasing access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Suitable volunteers are selected from among the target groups and trained to function as Peer Health Promoters (PHPs). PHPs are very important players in the success of the project. They conduct group education sessions and one-on-one discussions with their co-workers with assistance from project staff, and refer colleagues for SRH and VCCT services as needed. They also distribute IEC materials, including booklets on STDs, HIV/AIDS, VCCT, home based care and illicit drug use. 

To maintain strong partnership between RHAC and industry stakeholders, quarterly and semi-annual meetings are held with relevant stakeholders such as, factory managers, provincial health department officials, local authorities and officials from the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor and Youth Rehabilitation.

Key achievements of the program in year 2007

• 1,247 peer health promoters
• 98,919 condoms were sold
• 301 peer health promoters received initial training
• 1,094 peer health promoters received refresher training
• 5,360 factory workers were referred for RH,HIV/AIDS and STI/STD services
•  939 group discussions were conducted with 14,601 participants
• 12 quiz shows were organized with 7,885 participants
• 63,406 educational materials were distributed