Hyderabad, June 2: A recent national-level study has revealed that Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Telangana together account for the highest concentration of Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in India.
According to the data, Karnataka leads with the highest proportion of the Female Sex Workers population, accounting for 15.4% of the national total. Andhra Pradesh follows closely with 12.0%, while Maharashtra accounts for 9.6%, Delhi for 8.9%, and Telangana for 7.6%.
Combined, these five regions are home to approximately 53% of the country’s total Female Sex Worker population, making them the primary focal points for interventions related to sexual health and disease prevention, including HIV/AIDS.
The findings are based on a comprehensive report titled Programmatic Mapping and Population Size Estimation (PMPSE), which aims to identify the geographical spread and estimate the size of key populations vulnerable to HIV.
The PMPSE study, carried out under national public health programs, plays a critical role in guiding targeted HIV prevention efforts by mapping vulnerable populations and assessing their size and distribution. Experts say that identifying these high-density zones is essential to effectively allocate resources and strengthen outreach programs.
Public health officials note that such studies are instrumental in shaping data-driven policies to ensure that health services reach marginalized and at-risk communities, especially in urban and semi-urban areas where commercial sex work is more visible and organized.
The report underscores the urgent need for tailored public health initiatives, greater community engagement, and policy support in these five states and the national capital to safeguard the health and rights of FSWs and reduce transmission risks in the general population.
