Prevalence and characteristics of HIV infection among female sex workers in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

The Pan African Medical Journal

Hippolyte Situakibanza¹  Véronique Kyabu²  Claude Mwamba²  Christian Kakisingi²  Michel Manika²  Dieudonné Ngwej³  Michel Muteba⁴  Olivier Mukuku⁵  Patricia Kajimb⁶  Kevin Ngwej⁷ 

[1] Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Tropical Diseases and of Infectious and Parasitological Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Republic Democratic of the Congo;Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo;Department of Pediatric, School of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo;Division of epidemiology and biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa;Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, République démocratique du Congo;Medical District of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo;Sexually Transmitted Infectious Clinic of Katuba, Lubumbashi, Republic Democratic of the Congo;

关键词: prevalence;    hiv infection;    female sex worker;    related factors;    lubumbashi;   

DOI  :  10.11604/pamj.2020.36.280.21378

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

INTRODUCTION: FSWs are considered a high-risk group for acquiring HIV infection due to their HIV prevalence estimated to be 10-20 times higher than in woman in the general population. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of HIV among female sex workers (FSWs) in Lubumbashi. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted among FSWs presenting for the first time at the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) clinic of Katuba, Lubumbashi, between April 2016 and December 2017. Information on the participants´ socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, and HIV serology results were collated and analyzed using a multiple logistic regression to identify factors associated to HIV infection among FSWs. RESULTS: information on 1555 sex workers was analysed in this study, the prevalence of HIV was 8.2%. The median age of the participants was 26 years (IQR: 21-34). Of the 127 HIV positive sex workers, 74% have been in the business for two years or less, 97% sell sex as their main income, 74% have more than 5 sexual intercourses per week, 95% reported using condom, 73% reported having history of STIs, 70% reported using alcohol before sex and 97% reported having three or more sexual partners per week. After adjusting for potentials cofounders, Age, Sex work as main income, years of selling sex, condom use, and alcohol use before sex were found to have a significant effect on HIV infection among sex workers. CONCLUSION: these findings highlight the vulnerability of FSWs to HIV infection and the necessity of immediate interventions to strengthen HIV prevention through behavioral change strategies and making available Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for FSWs in Lubumbashi.

【 授权许可】

Unknown