This study of participatory action research (PAR) among Thai women and girls involved in sex trafficking and prostitution demonstrates ways to: (1) educate women and girls; (2) empower women and girls through the process of reconstructing and using their own life experiences; (3) generate a body of popular knowledge and action plans derived from their own experience which is more relevant to the problem solutions; and (4) raise their consciousness as of the process outcome in order to improve in their lives. The process of PAR including (1) problem defining, (2) data collecting and analyzing, and (3) action plans was undertaken by the participant group. These women and girls were residing at the Kredtrakarn Protection and Occupational Development Center shelter; and I took the role of facilitator. Sixteen group discussions were conducted for the PAR process at the shelter and a one-time interview of the stakeholder group consisting of politicians, government officials, police, international and domestic NGOs and etc. was implemented so as to add to the generation of popular knowledge. Learning, empowering and raising consciousness are the process outcome. Evaluations were conducted by means of the process of PAR to produce the PAR process outcome. All participants stated that they all learned much about the issues related to sex trafficking and prostitution and increased their self-confidence. Findings include: (1) two sets of in-depth people knowledge, and (2) two sets of short-term and long-term plans. Findings explore contributing factors such as family with problems, running away from home, poverty, insufficient education, drug usage, peer pressure, consumerism, gullibility, and the role of agents. Findings of this study provide more relevance related to issues of sex trafficking and prostitution because they were derived from people who had been directly involved. Findings were analyzed and consolidated within the context of Thai socio-economic-cultural views. Key concepts for implications include: (1) family issues, (2) educational efficacy, (3) law enforcement and revision, and (4) an agent. Findings related to all of these concepts can contribute toward social reform and policy development, practice within the nursing profession, and ground theory generating.

<p> Centers for Disease Control (2011a) Surveillance report revealed African American women comprised 63% of new HIV cases among women; 65% of African American women were infected with HIV transmitted by heterosexual sex; yet represent 13% of the female population in the United States. An existing data set was examined from a sample of 761 African American women with a history of drug use at high risk to acquire or transmit HIV and/or STDs to determine 751 women&rsquo;s knowledge and attitudes about risky sexual behaviors, factors influencing a decision to HIV test, and the influence of sex trading on the decision to HIV test. Binary logistic regression predicted a small percentage of women&rsquo;s decision to HIV test was influenced by knowledge of risky sexual behaviors (Naegelkerke R2, = .100). There were significant difference in the number HIV tests for women who reported cheating on a steady sex partner (M = 4.25, SD =7.49) versus women who did not cheat (M = 3.28, SD = 4.67), t(747) = - 2.19, p = .03. Binary logistic regression predicted a minor percentage of women&rsquo;s decision to HIV test was influenced by women&rsquo;s attitudes about risky sexual behavior (Nagelkerke R2 = .043). Women who agreed with the statement, I have risky drug behaviors that need changing were predicted twice as likely to be HIV tested Exp [B] = 1.829, 95% CI [1.018, 3.288]. Binary logistic regression predicted an increased 15.3% variation in the decision to HIV test is influenced by women&rsquo;s knowledge to prevent HIV and attitudes about risky sexual behavior (Nagelkerke R2 = .153). Women who agreed with the knowledge item, asked their partner if they were HIV positive, were 1.3 times more likely, and women who agree with the knowledge statement, I have risky drug behaviors that need changing, increased to 1.9 times more likely to HIV test. There were significant differences in number of HIV tests for women who engaged in sex-trading versus women who do not engage in sex-trading. Tailored strategies that determine unique needs of African American women to reduce risky sex an increase HIV testing are recommended.</p>