scholarly journals Preference and uptake of different community-based HIV testing service delivery models among female sex workers along Malaba-Kampala highway, Uganda, 2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Pande ◽  
Lilian Bulage ◽  
Steven Kabwama ◽  
Fred Nsubuga ◽  
Peter Kyambadde ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Female Sex workers (FSW) and their clients accounted for 18% of the new HIV infections in 2015/2016. Special community-based HIV testing service delivery models (static facilities, outreaches, and peer to peer mechanism) were designed in 2012 under the Most At Risk Populations Frame work and implemented to increase access and utilization of HIV care services for key populations like female sex workers. However, to date there is no study that has been done to access the preference and uptake of different community-based HIV testing service delivery models used to reach FSW. We assessed preference and uptake of the current community-based HIV testing services delivery models that are used to reach FSW and identified challenges faced during the implementation of the models. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study design using quantitative (interview with the health workers in facilities providing services to female sex workers and interviews with FSWs) and qualitative (interviews with Ministry of Health staff, health workers, district health team members, program staff at different levels involved in delivery of HIV care services, FSWs and political leaders to assess for the enabling environment created to deliver the different community-based HIV testing services to FSWs along the Malaba-Kampala highway. Malaba – Kampala high way is one of the major high ways with many different hot spots where the actual buying and selling of sex takes place. We defined FSWs as any female, who undertakes sexual activity after consenting with a man for money or other items/benefits as an occupation or as a primary source of livelihood irrespective of site of operation within the past six months. We assessed the preference and uptake of different community based HIV testing services delivery model among FSWs based on two indicators, i.e., the proportion of FSWs who had an HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) in the last 12 months and the proportion of FSWs who were positive and linked to care. Results Overall, 86% (390/456) of the FSWs had taken an HIV test in the last 12 months. Of the 390 FSWs, 72% (279/390) had used static facilities, 25% (98/390) had used outreaches, and 3.3% (13/390) used peer to peer mechanisms to have an HIV test. Overall, 35% (159/390) of the FSWs who had taken an HIV test were HIV positive. Of the 159, 83% (132/159) were successfully linked into care. Ninety one percent (120/132) reported to have been linked into care by static facilities. Challenges experienced included; lack of trust in the results given during outreaches, failure to offer other testing services including hepatitis B and syphilis during outreaches, inconsistent supply of testing kits, condoms, STI drugs, and unfriendly health services due to the infrastructure and non-trained health workers delivering KP HIV testing services. Conclusions Most of the FSWs had HCT services and were linked to care through static facilities. Community-based HIV testing service delivery models are challenged with inconsistent supply of HIV testing commodities and unfriendly services.. We recommended strengthening of all HIV testing community-based HIV testing service deliverymodels by ensuring constant supply of HIV testing/AIDS care commoditiesoffering FSW friendly services, and provision of comprehensive HIV/AIDS health care package.

Sexual Health ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Kate Whitford ◽  
Elke Mitchell ◽  
Elan Lazuardi ◽  
Emily Rowe ◽  
Irma Anintya Tasya ◽  
...  

Background: HIV prevalence among female sex workers in Indonesia remains high and large proportions of female sex workers have never been tested for HIV. International research highlights the importance of community-led strategies to increase HIV testing in this population. Little qualitative research has been conducted to address these issues in Indonesia or other Asia-Pacific countries. This paper documents social influences that enhance HIV testing among female sex workers in urban Indonesia. Methods: This was an interpretive qualitative study in Yogyakarta, Denpasar and Bandung. In total, 57 female sex workers participated in 11 focus group discussions, and four participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Deductive and inductive thematic analysis techniques were used to identify narratives of strengths pertaining to uptake of HIV testing. Results: Participants described supportive relationships with peers, community-based organisations and ‘bosses’. Participants reported trusted networks with peers within which to share information about HIV testing and receive emotional support. Relationships with community outreach workers facilitated HIV testing through reminders, accompanied visits, and emotional/informational support. Community-based organisations worked with health services to facilitate mobile, community-based testing to overcome employment- and family-related constraints that inhibited women’s clinic attendance. ‘Bosses’ employed a variety of practices to encourage HIV testing among their workers. Conclusions: Relationships, practices and action in community- and workplace-based settings outside formal health service spaces enhanced HIV testing among female sex workers. Community- or workplace-based HIV testing with outreach support from health services, peer-led HIV testing within existing social and work-based networks, and working with bosses to implement HIV prevention strategies can address low HIV testing rates in this key population.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie Olivia Yunus ◽  
Anak Agung Sagung Sawitri ◽  
Dewa Nyoman Wirawan ◽  
I Gusti Agung Agus Mahendra ◽  
Dewi Susanti ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The HIV epidemic in Indonesia continues to be concentrated among key populations including female sex workers (FSW). However, increasing HIV testing among this sub-population continues to be a challenge, necessitating exploration into alternatives testing modalities. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to test whether the addition of oral fluid test as an alternative testing modality will increase the number of FSW who receive HIV testing. METHODS We undertook a community-randomized trial in 23 national priority districts with existing package of HIV community outreach services. The trial consisted of 15 intervention districts and 8 control districts. In the control districts, implementing units of HIV program administered the standard of care while in the intervention districts, an additional HIV self-testing option using oral fluid test was given as a community-based screening. Participants with reactive screening results will be encouraged to undergo HIV testing at a health facility to confirm their diagnosis and subsequent antiretroviral treatment. Multiple means of recruitment were deployed including through outreach workers and social media campaign. Due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic, most research activities were conducted online. RESULTS 17,962 FSWs were reached in the intervention sites, 45.5% (n=8,176/17,962) accepted testing, 18.9% of whom accepted OFT (n= 1,545/8,176). A total of 1.3% (n=106/8,176) participants were confirmed HIV positive. In the control districts, 7,653 FSWs were reached, 45.4% (n=3,471/7.653) received testing, 0.8% (n=29/3,471) were confirmed HIV positive. Post-test surveys for participants receiving OFT indicated overall high satisfaction and intention to use. Through the social media campaign, there were also people who registered independently for OFT but did not identify as FSW. They were eventually not eligible to participate but their interest point to the possibility of implementing HIV self-testing to general population. CONCLUSIONS The addition of HIV self-testing to standard of care supported by a web-based data collection system was able to result in higher HIV testing and higher case finding among female sex workers in Indonesia. High satisfaction of OFT users and the interest of general population towards this alternative testing modality are promising for scaling up this strategy nationally. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT04578145


Sexual Health ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Whitford ◽  
Elke Mitchell ◽  
Elan Lazuardi ◽  
Emily Rowe ◽  
Irma Anintya Tasya ◽  
...  

Background HIV prevalence among female sex workers in Indonesia remains high and large proportions of female sex workers have never been tested for HIV. International research highlights the importance of community-led strategies to increase HIV testing in this population. Little qualitative research has been conducted to address these issues in Indonesia or other Asia-Pacific countries. This paper documents social influences that enhance HIV testing among female sex workers in urban Indonesia. Methods: This was an interpretive qualitative study in Yogyakarta, Denpasar and Bandung. In total, 57 female sex workers participated in 11 focus group discussions, and four participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Deductive and inductive thematic analysis techniques were used to identify narratives of strengths pertaining to uptake of HIV testing. Results: Participants described supportive relationships with peers, community-based organisations and ‘bosses’. Participants reported trusted networks with peers within which to share information about HIV testing and receive emotional support. Relationships with community outreach workers facilitated HIV testing through reminders, accompanied visits, and emotional/informational support. Community-based organisations worked with health services to facilitate mobile, community-based testing to overcome employment- and family-related constraints that inhibited women’s clinic attendance. ‘Bosses’ employed a variety of practices to encourage HIV testing among their workers. Conclusions: Relationships, practices and action in community- and workplace-based settings outside formal health service spaces enhanced HIV testing among female sex workers. Community- or workplace-based HIV testing with outreach support from health services, peer-led HIV testing within existing social and work-based networks, and working with bosses to implement HIV prevention strategies can address low HIV testing rates in this key population.


Author(s):  
Sina Ahmadi ◽  
Mehrdad Khezri ◽  
Payam Roshanfekr ◽  
Salah Eddin Karimi ◽  
Meroe Vameghi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Female sex workers (FSWs) are at a disproportionate risk of sexually transmitted infections and they may face significant barriers to HIV testing. This study aimed to examine HIV testing prevalence and its associated factors among street-based FSWs in Iran. Method A total of 898 FSWs were recruited from 414 venues across 19 major cities in Iran between October 2016 and March 2017. Eligible FSWs were women aged 18 years of age who had at least one commercial sexual intercourse in the previous year. HIV testing was defined as having tested for HIV in the lifetime. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine the correlates of HIV testing. We report adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Result Overall, 57.8% (95%CI: 20.0, 88.0) of participants reported having tested for HIV, and HIV prevalence among FSWs who tested for HIV was 10.3% (95%CI: 7.5, 13.0). The multivariable model showed that unstable housing (aOR: 8.86, 95%CI: 2.68, 29.32) and drug use (aOR: 3.47, 95%CI: 1.33, 9.06) were associated with increased likelihood of HIV testing. However, FSWs with a higher level of income were less likely to be tested for HIV (aOR: 0.09, 95%CI: 0.02, 0.43). Conclusion Almost one in ten street-based FSWs had never tested for HIV. These findings suggest the need for evidence-based strategies such as outreach support and HIV self-testing to improve HIV testing in this marginalized population.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e0147587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa Shokoohi ◽  
Mohammad Karamouzian ◽  
Razieh Khajekazemi ◽  
Mehdi Osooli ◽  
Hamid Sharifi ◽  
...  

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