Journal
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
Volume 48, Issue 9, Pages 654-662Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001399
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- Canadian Institutes of Health Research [FDN-143218]
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In Benin, female sex workers have been the target of HIV prevention programs for a long time. A national survey conducted in 2017 among female sex workers revealed that while a high percentage had heard of HIV/AIDS, prevention indicators were often low with only 79.1% having ever been tested for HIV. Among HIV-positive women, knowledge of HIV status was relatively low at 60.6%, however, the linkage to care was good with 90.5% on antiretroviral therapy.
Background Benin has a long-standing history of HIV prevention programs aimed at female sex workers (FSWs). We used data from a national survey among FSWs (2017) to assess the prevention and care cascades in this population. Methods Female sex workers were recruited through cluster sampling of sex work sites. A questionnaire was administered, and HIV tested. HIV-positive participants were asked to provide dried blood spots and were tested for antiretroviral and viral load. We assessed 2 prevention cascades (HIV testing and safer sex) and the treatment cascade, using a combination of self-reported and biological variables. Results Mean age of the 1086 FSWs was 30 years. Half of them were Beninese, and two-thirds had a primary school education level or less. Almost all FSWs had ever heard of HIV/AIDS. More than half (79.1%) had ever been tested, and 84.1% of the latter had been tested in the last year. In the previous 6 months, 90.1% were exposed to prevention messages. Women exposed to any HIV prevention message reported a higher level of consistent condom use in the last month (69.0%) than those who were not (48.5%, P < 0.0001). HIV prevalence was 7.7%. Among HIV-positive women, 60.6% knew their status; among those, 90.5% were on antiretroviral and 81.8% of them had a suppressed viral load. Conclusions Despite long-standing HIV prevention programs for FSWs, the prevention indicators were often low. Linkage to care was good, viral suppression was suboptimal, but knowledge of HIV-positive status was low. Exposing women to prevention messages is necessary, as to increase HIV testing.
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