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Phatak G, Johnston LG, Khoudri I, Rhilani HE, Kettani AE, McLaughlin KR. Trends and Factors Affecting Knowledge of and Stigma and Violence Towards Female Sex Workers in Morocco. Int J Behav Med 2023:10.1007/s12529-023-10237-3. [PMID: 37932623 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-023-10237-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We investigate factors affecting HIV knowledge, stigma, and violence among female sex workers (FSW) in Agadir, Rabat, Fes, and Tangier, Morocco, over three rounds of HIV surveillance surveys (2012, 2016, and 2019) conducted using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Multivariable analyses from RDS studies examining the relationships between variables are under-utilized, particularly analyses that combine multiple locations and years of data together in a principled manner. METHOD We fit three weighted logistic regression models for HIV transmission knowledge, having been denied service (experienced stigma), and having been hit (experienced violence) in the last 12 months, and perform model selection using 41 possible explanatory variables. RESULTS Variables significantly associated with higher risk included reasons for sex work, how FSW solicit clients, if female family members are also involved in sex work, ever being forced to have sex, and ever being arrested or jailed. There were also significant differences between cities and in trends over time, with HIV transmission knowledge increasing and having been denied health services and having been hit decreasing. CONCLUSION We found associations indicating that some particularly vulnerable FSW may be subject to multiple intersecting risks related to HIV knowledge, stigma, and violence which may decrease their agency to receive proper HIV testing, care, and treatment. Although Morocco has made excellent progress in providing HIV services to vulnerable populations, this additional analysis will be useful as Morocco makes programmatic decisions related to ending HIV by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gauri Phatak
- Department of Statistics, Oregon State University, 239 Weniger Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Katherine R McLaughlin
- Department of Statistics, Oregon State University, 239 Weniger Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
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Nikoloski Z, King EJ, Mossialos E. HIV in the Russian Federation: mortality, prevalence, risk factors, and current understanding of sexual transmission. AIDS 2023; 37:637-645. [PMID: 36729857 PMCID: PMC9994792 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although HIV infection in the Russian Federation was historically concentrated among marginalized populations (people who inject drugs, sex workers, MSM, and the prison population), recent evidence suggests that it has become a more generalized epidemic. The objective of our research was to explore how these trends in HIV prevalence and HIV-related mortality compare across Russia. METHODS We calculated HIV-associated mortality for both male and female individuals in each region (oblast) of the Russian Federation using data from the Russian Fertility and Mortality Database (RusFMD). Using current data on HIV prevalence, we computed the correlation between HIV prevalence and HIV-associated mortality. We also used oblast-level data to examine the associations between HIV prevalence and the risk factors most commonly associated with HIV infection. RESULTS Over the past 20 years, the Russian Federation has experienced a rapid increase in HIV-associated mortality in both male and female individuals. Our findings revealed significant heterogeneity, with higher rates of HIV-associated mortality reported in oblasts in the Siberian and Ural Federal Districts. There is a strong correlation (0.8) between HIV-associated mortality and virus prevalence. These findings confirm that there are regional disparities in access and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), as indicated by the low correlation (-0.4) between virus prevalence and access to ART coverage. The results from our modeling analysis revealed that, in addition to the factors most commonly associated with this disease (e.g. intravenous drug use), knowledge about sexual transmission of HIV in the general population has a broad impact on its prevalence at the oblast level. CONCLUSION Interventions that reduce HIV prevalence, for example, opioid substitution therapy and needle-sharing programs for people who inject drugs, as well as the increased availability of educational and preventive programs may halt the spread of HIV across the Russian Federation. Similarly, increased access to treatment could help in reducing HIV-related mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zlatko Nikoloski
- Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth J. King
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elias Mossialos
- Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
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3
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Lodi S, Rossi SL, Bendiks S, Gnatienko N, Lloyd-Travaglini C, Vetrova M, Toussova O, Bushara N, Blokhina E, Krupitsky E, Ekstrand ML, Lioznov D, Samet JH, Lunze K. Correlates of Intersectional HIV and Substance Use Stigma Affecting People with HIV and Substance Use in St. Petersburg, Russia. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:462-472. [PMID: 35916947 PMCID: PMC9892353 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03781-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
People with HIV (PWH) who inject drugs often experience coexisting HIV- and substance use-related stigma manifestations. We assessed correlates of HIV stigma (Berger HIV stigma scale), substance use stigma (Substance Abuse Self-stigma scale) and intersectional HIV and substance use stigma in a cohort of PWH with a lifetime history of drug use in St. Petersburg, Russia. Intersectional stigma was defined as having a score greater than the median for both forms of stigma. Of the 208 participants, 56 (27%) had intersectional stigma. Depressive symptoms and alcohol dependence were significantly associated with a higher HIV and substance stigma score, but not with intersectional stigma. Individual and community interventions to reduce the impact of HIV stigma and substance use stigma affecting PWH who inject drugs should consider assessing and addressing mental health and unhealthy substance use. Further work with longitudinal data is needed to understand mechanisms leading to intersectional stigma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lodi
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| | - Sarah L Rossi
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sally Bendiks
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Marina Vetrova
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Olga Toussova
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Natalia Bushara
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elena Blokhina
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Evgeny Krupitsky
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Department of Addiction, Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Maria L Ekstrand
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- St. John's Research Institute, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Dmitry Lioznov
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Jeffrey H Samet
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karsten Lunze
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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Chan HN, Mohamad A, Abdul Rashid A, Ho BK, Abdul Aziz Cooper A, Mukhtar Aajamer H, Noor Emjah E, Krishnan JS, Hwee GNL. Assessing knowledge, acts of discrimination, stigmatizing attitudes and its associated factors towards people living with HIV (PLHIV) among Family Medicine trainees in Malaysia. MALAYSIAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF MALAYSIA 2022; 17:33-42. [PMID: 36606169 PMCID: PMC9809432 DOI: 10.51866/oa1298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human immunodeficiency virus (HlV)-related stigmatisation and discrimination adversely affect health outcomes in terms of timely diagnosis, treatment and care. Despite global efforts, they remain common among healthcare workers worldwide. In Malaysia, family medicine specialists are entrusted with the care of HIV patients at the primary care level. This study aimed to assess HIV-related knowledge, acts of discrimination, stigmatising attitudes and their associated factors among family medicine trainees in Malaysia. METHODOLOGY This cross-sectional study was conducted among 397 family medicine trainees in Malaysia using a validated, self-administered questionnaire that assessed the participants' sociodemographic information, HIV/AIDS knowledge, stigmatising attitudes (attitudes of blame, attitudes towards imposed measures, comfort in dealing with HIV patients) and acts of discrimination. RESULTS The most common stigmatisation was "attitudes of blame" (mean [SD] score: 3.0 (0.74); range score:1-5), and the most frequent discriminatory act was breaching patient confidentiality (54.9%). Around 82.1% had good knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Married participants and participants who had 7 years or less in service were more stigmatising in "attitudes of imposed measures" towards people living with HIV (p=0.006). CONCLUSION Family medicine trainees exhibited stigmatisation and discrimination towards HIV patients despite having good HIV knowledge. Hence, appropriate and concerted health education should be given to all family medicine trainees to eliminate stigmatisation and discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiang Ngee Chan
- MBBS (IMU), FRACGP (Australia) Klinik Kesihatan Cheras, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Anuar Mohamad
- MD (UKM), Dr. Fam. Med (UKM) Klinik Kesihatan Cheras, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpu, Malaysia
| | - Aneesa Abdul Rashid
- MBBCh BAO (NUI), DrFamMed (UKM) Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), UPM, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Bee Kiau Ho
- MBBS (UM), MMed (Family Medicine) Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Botanic, Jalan Langat, Bandar Botanic, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Alia Abdul Aziz Cooper
- MBChB (University of Dundee), FRACGP (Australia) Klinik Kesihatan Kota Damansara 40-70, Jalan Pekaka 8/3, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Haslina Mukhtar Aajamer
- MD (USU), Graduate Certificate of Family Medicine (AFPM) Klinik Medina, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Ermi Noor Emjah
- MD (USM), Diploma in Family Medicine (AFPM) Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Hulu Langat, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jashithra Syamala Krishnan
- MBBS (AIMST), Diploma in Family Medicine (AFPM) Klinik Kesihatan Pandamaran, Persiaran Raja Muda Musa, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Gloria Neo Lih Hwee
- MD (CSMU), Graduate Certificate in Family Medicine (AFPM) Klinik Alam Medic, Taman Sri Muda, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
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Hakim AJ, Ogwal M, Doshi RH, Kiyingi H, Sande E, Serwadda D, Musinguzi G, Standish J, Hladik W. At the intersection of sexual and reproductive health and HIV services: use of moderately effective family planning among female sex workers in Kampala, Uganda. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:646. [PMID: 35978285 PMCID: PMC9382809 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04977-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Female sex workers are vulnerable to HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancies; however, the literature on female sex workers (FSW) focuses primarily on HIV and is limited regarding these other health issues.
Methods We conducted a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) survey during April-December 2012 to characterize the reproductive health of and access to contraceptives FSW in Kampala, Uganda. Eligibility criteria included age ≥ 15 years, residence in greater Kampala, and having sold sex to men in ≤ 6 months. Data were analyzed using RDS-Analyst. Survey logistic regression was used in SAS. Results We enrolled 1,497 FSW with a median age of 27 years. Almost all FSW had been pregnant at least once. An estimated 33.8% of FSW were currently not using any form of family planning (FP) to prevent pregnancy; 52.7% used at least moderately effective FP. Among those using FP methods, injectable contraception was the most common form of FP used (55.4%), followed by condoms (19.7%), oral contraception (18.1%), and implants (3.7%). HIV prevalence was 31.4%, syphilis prevalence was 6.2%, and 89.8% had at least one symptom of a sexually transmitted disease in the last six months. Using at least a moderately effective method of FP was associated with accessing sexually transmitted disease treatment in a stigma-free environment in the last six months (aOR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1–2.4), giving birth to 2–3 children (aOR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.4–4.8) or 4–5 children (aOR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.4–5.9). It is plausible that those living with HIV are also less likely than those without it to be using a moderately effective method of FP (aOR: 0.7, 95% CI: 0.5–1.0). Conclusions The provision of integrated HIV and sexual and reproductive health services in a non-stigmatizing environment has the potential to facilitate increased health service uptake by FSW and decrease missed opportunities for service provision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avi J Hakim
- Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, US1-2, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
| | - Moses Ogwal
- School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Reena H Doshi
- Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, US1-2, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Herbert Kiyingi
- Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Enos Sande
- Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David Serwadda
- School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Jonathan Standish
- Department of Counseling and Psychological Services, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA
| | - Wolfgang Hladik
- Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, US1-2, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
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Wang Y, Dooley K, Wang C, Smith K. Biomedical contraceptives and their association with condom use consistency among female sex workers in China: results from a national cross-sectional study. Ann Epidemiol 2022; 74:104-110. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2022.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Goldenberg SM, Perry C, Watt S, Bingham B, Braschel M, Shannon K. Violence, policing, and systemic racism as structural barriers to substance use treatment amongst women sex workers who use drugs: Findings of a community-based cohort in Vancouver, Canada (2010-2019). Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 237:109506. [PMID: 35753282 PMCID: PMC9381028 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite a high prevalence of substance use among women sex workers (SWs), rigorous social epidemiologic data on substance use treatment experiences among SWs remains limited. Given these gaps and the disproportionate burden of criminalization borne by Indigenous SWs, we evaluated (1) structural correlates of unsuccessful attempts to access substance use treatment; and (2) the interaction between policing and Indigenous ancestry on unsuccessful attempts to access treatment among SWs who use drugs. METHODS Prospective data were from an open community-based cohort of women SWs (2010-2019) in Vancouver, Canada. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations(GEE) assessed correlates of unsuccessful attempts to access treatment. A multivariable GEE confounder model examined the interaction between Indigenous ancestry and policing on unsuccessful attempts to access treatment. RESULTS Amongst 645 SWs who used drugs, 32.1 % reported unsuccessful attempts to access substance use treatment during the 9.5-year study. In multivariable GEE analysis, unsuccessful substance use treatment access was associated with identifying as a sexual/gender minority (AOR: 1.90, 95 %CI:1.37-2.63), opioid use (AOR: 1.43, 95 %CI: 1.07-1.91), and exposure to homelessness (AOR: 1.72; 95 %CI:1.33-2.21), police harassment (AOR: 1.48, 95 %CI:1.03-2.13), workplace violence (AOR: 1.80, 95 %CI: 1.31-2.49) and intimate partner violence (AOR: 2.11, 95 %CI:1.50-2.97). In interaction analysis, Indigenous SWs who experienced police harassment faced the highest odds of unsuccessful attempts to access substance use treatment (AOR: 2.59, 95 %CI:1.65-4.05). CONCLUSION Findings suggest a need to scale-up culturally-safe, trauma-informed addictions, gender-based violence, and sex worker services, alongside dismantling of systemic racism across and beyond health and addictions services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shira M. Goldenberg
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-4162, USA,Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Chelsey Perry
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Sarah Watt
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Brittany Bingham
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada,Division of Social Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul’s Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Melissa Braschel
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Kate Shannon
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada,Division of Social Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul’s Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
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Stojanovski K, King EJ, Amico KR, Eisenberg MC, Geronimus AT, Baros S, Schmidt AJ. Stigmatizing Policies Interact with Mental Health and Sexual Behaviours to Structurally Induce HIV Diagnoses Among European Men Who Have Sex with Men. AIDS Behav 2022; 26:3400-3410. [PMID: 35434774 PMCID: PMC9556380 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03683-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Structural stigma shapes men who have sex with men's (MSM's) mental health and sexual behaviours. The aim of this study was to examine how stigmatizing policies interact with downstream anxiety/depression and sexual behaviours to structurally pattern HIV disparities among European MSM. We conducted a secondary data analysis of the European Men-who-have-sex-with-men Internet Survey (EMIS) from 2017. We included a total of 98,600 participants living in 39 European countries. We used the Rainbow Index, a score given to countries based on their sexual and gender minority policies as the predictor of HIV diagnosis. We conducted adjusted random intercept and slope multi-level logistic regressions. In adjusted models, higher Rainbow Index scores was associated with lower predictive probabilities of diagnosed HIV, regardless of the number of condomless intercourse partners. The predictive probability of HIV diagnosis was also lower, regardless of severity of anxiety/depression, where the Rainbow Index score was better. Country-level policies interact with downstream sexual behaviours and anxiety/depression to structurally influence HIV diagnosis among MSM in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristefer Stojanovski
- Department of Social, Behavioral and Population Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Elizabeth J King
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - K Rivet Amico
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Marisa C Eisenberg
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Mathematics, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Arline T Geronimus
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Population Studies Centre, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sladjana Baros
- Department for HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis, and Tuberculosis, Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut", Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Axel J Schmidt
- Sigma Research, Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Assessing the Relationship Between HIV Quality of Care and Treatment Literacy on ART Adherence and Viral Suppression Among Female Sex Workers Living in the Dominican Republic. AIDS Behav 2022; 26:3056-3067. [PMID: 35305180 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03647-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
This study assessed the relationship between the quality of HIV care and treatment literacy on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and viral suppression among female sex workers (FSWs) living with HIV (n = 211) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Multivariable logistic regression results indicate better patient-provider communication (AOR 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.07) and respectful treatment (AOR 2.17; 95% CI 1.09-4.32) increase the odds of viral suppression, while higher costs reduce both the odds of ART adherence (AOR 0.57, 95% CI 0.34- 0.95) and being virally suppressed (AOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41-0.85). Greater treatment literacy was associated with an increased odds of ART adherence (AOR 4.15 for understanding of viral load; 95% CI 1.50-11.52) and viral suppression (AOR 2.75 for understanding of CD4 count; 95% CI 1.31-5.80). Findings support investments in treatment education, effective and respectful patient-provider communication, dignified care, and cost-support for associated HIV care costs to facilitate FSWs' pathway towards viral suppression.
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Vetrova MV, Cheng DM, Bendiks S, Gnatienko N, Lloyd-Travaglini C, Jiang W, Luoma J, Blokhina E, Krupitsky E, Lioznov D, Ekstrand ML, Raj A, Samet JH, Lunze K. HIV and Substance Use Stigma, Intersectional Stigma and Healthcare Among HIV-Positive PWID in Russia. AIDS Behav 2021; 25:2815-2826. [PMID: 33506305 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03172-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the intersection of HIV stigma and substance use stigma. Using data from 188 HIV-positive people who inject drugs (PWID) in Russia, we examined the associations of these stigmas and their interaction with access and utilization of healthcare. While substance use stigma was significantly associated with poor access to care (AOR 2.31, 95%CI 1.50-3.57), HIV stigma was not. HIV stigma was associated with lower inpatient care utilization (AOR 0.32, 95%CI 0.14-0.65), while substance use stigma was not. We did not detect a significant interaction between the two forms of stigma for either of the primary outcomes. However, those with high levels of both substance use stigma and HIV stigma had higher odds of poor general access to healthcare (AOR 1.86, 95%CI 1.19-2.92), and lower odds of recent general outpatient (AOR 0.52, 95%CI 0.32-0.85) and any inpatient (AOR 0.48, 95%CI 0.22-0.99) care utilization compared to those with low levels of both types of stigma. Interventions addressing both substance use and HIV stigma in general healthcare settings might improve care in this HIV key population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina V Vetrova
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical, University of Saint Petersburg, 6-8 Lev Tolstoy Street, St. Petersburg, Russia, 197022.
- Boston Medical Center, Boston, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | - Wenqing Jiang
- School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, USA
| | - Jason Luoma
- Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Elena Blokhina
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical, University of Saint Petersburg, 6-8 Lev Tolstoy Street, St. Petersburg, Russia, 197022
| | - Evgeny Krupitsky
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical, University of Saint Petersburg, 6-8 Lev Tolstoy Street, St. Petersburg, Russia, 197022
- Department of Addiction, Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Dmitry Lioznov
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical, University of Saint Petersburg, 6-8 Lev Tolstoy Street, St. Petersburg, Russia, 197022
| | - Maria L Ekstrand
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- St. John's Research Institute, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Anita Raj
- Center on Gender Equity and Health, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey H Samet
- Boston Medical Center, Boston, USA
- School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, USA
- School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, USA
| | - Karsten Lunze
- Boston Medical Center, Boston, USA
- School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, USA
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Kulkarni S, Lawande DD, Dharmadhikari S, Deshpande CM. Exploring the barriers for eye care among transgenders and commercial sex workers in Pune, Maharashtra. Indian J Ophthalmol 2021; 69:2277-2281. [PMID: 34427198 PMCID: PMC8544039 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.ijo_3480_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To explore all possible barriers faced by transgenders (TG) and commercial sex workers (CSW) in accessing eye care in Pune city in western India. Methods This qualitative study was conducted at a tertiary eye care center in Pune. Interview topic guides for face-to-face interviews and focused group discussions were developed. Comprehensive eye check-up was organized in the residential localities of TG and CSW communities in Pune. Those with severe visual impairment or blindness were identified. A sample of TGs and CSWs from this group was purposively selected and invited to participate in this study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with each TG and CSW. A group of health care providers and NGO workers serving these communities were invited to participate in focused group discussions. All interviews/discussions were audio recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. A qualitative software (N vivo 12, QRS International, Australia) was used to identify various themes and subthemes under each domain of barriers. Results A total of 24 people (6 each from TGs, CSWs, health care provider, and NGO worker groups) participated in this study. The most common barriers reported were social stigma, discrimination, poverty, financial exclusion, and mental health factors. Non availability of gender-neutral facilities in clinics was a unique barrier reported by TGs. Conclusion Marginalized communities of TGs and CSWs in Pune face several previously unexplored and unique barriers for access to eye care despite the availability of services in the vicinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sucheta Kulkarni
- Department of Community Ophthalmology, PBMA's H. V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Devika D Lawande
- Department of Community Ophthalmology, PBMA's H. V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sheetal Dharmadhikari
- Department of Community Ophthalmology, PBMA's H. V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Col Madan Deshpande
- Department of Community Ophthalmology, PBMA's H. V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
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12
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Asabor EN, Lett E, Moll A, Shenoi SV. "We've Got Our Own Beliefs, Attitudes, Myths": A Mixed Methods Assessment of Rural South African Health Care Workers' Knowledge of and Attitudes Towards PrEP Implementation. AIDS Behav 2021; 25:2517-2532. [PMID: 33763802 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03213-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
South Africa maintains the world's largest HIV prevalence, accounting for 20.4% of people living with HIV internationally. HIV Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has demonstrated efficacy; however, there is limited data on PrEP implementation in South Africa, particularly in rural areas. Using grounded theory analysis of semi-structured interviews and exploratory factor analyses of structured surveys, this mixed methods study examines healthcare workers' (HCWs)' beliefs about their patients and the likelihood of PrEP uptake in their communities. The disproportionate burden of HIV among Black South Africans is linked to the legacy of apartheid and resulting disparities in wealth and employment. HCWs in our study emphasized the importance of addressing these structural barriers, including increased travel burden among men in the community looking for work, poor transportation infrastructure, and limited numbers of highly skilled clinical staff in their rural community. HCWs also espoused a vision of PrEP that prioritizes women due to perceived constraints on their sexual agency, and that minimizes the impact of HIV-related stigma on PrEP implementation. However, HCWs' additional concerns for risk compensation may reflect dominant social mores around sexual behavior. In recognition of HCWs' role as both informants and community members, implementation scientists should invite local HCWs to partner as early as the priority-setting stage for PrEP interventions. Inviting leadership from local HCWs may increase the likelihood of delivery plans that account for unique local context and structural barriers researchers may otherwise struggle to uncover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuella Ngozi Asabor
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Elle Lett
- Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anthony Moll
- Church of Scotland Hospital, Tugela Ferry, South Africa
| | - Sheela V Shenoi
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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13
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Levy B, Correia HE, Chirove F, Ronoh M, Abebe A, Kgosimore M, Chimbola O, Machingauta MH, Lenhart S, White KAJ. Modeling the Effect of HIV/AIDS Stigma on HIV Infection Dynamics in Kenya. Bull Math Biol 2021; 83:55. [PMID: 33818710 PMCID: PMC8021528 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-021-00891-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Stigma toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) has impeded the response to the disease across the world. Widespread stigma leads to poor adherence of preventative measures while also causing PLWHA to avoid testing and care, delaying important treatment. Stigma is clearly a hugely complex construct. However, it can be broken down into components which include internalized stigma (how people with the trait feel about themselves) and enacted stigma (how a community reacts to an individual with the trait). Levels of HIV/AIDS-related stigma are particularly high in sub-Saharan Africa, which contributed to a surge in cases in Kenya during the late twentieth century. Since the early twenty-first century, the United Nations and governments around the world have worked to eliminate stigma from society and resulting public health education campaigns have improved the perception of PLWHA over time, but HIV/AIDS remains a significant problem, particularly in Kenya. We take a data-driven approach to create a time-dependent stigma function that captures both the level of internalized and enacted stigma in the population. We embed this within a compartmental model for HIV dynamics. Since 2000, the population in Kenya has been growing almost exponentially and so we rescale our model system to create a coupled system for HIV prevalence and fraction of individuals that are infected that seek treatment. This allows us to estimate model parameters from published data. We use the model to explore a range of scenarios in which either internalized or enacted stigma levels vary from those predicted by the data. This analysis allows us to understand the potential impact of different public health interventions on key HIV metrics such as prevalence and disease-related death and to see how close Kenya will get to achieving UN goals for these HIV and stigma metrics by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Levy
- Department of Mathematics, Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA, USA
| | - Hannah E Correia
- Harvard Data Science Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Faraimunashe Chirove
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Marilyn Ronoh
- School of Mathematics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ash Abebe
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Moatlhodi Kgosimore
- Department of Biometry and Mathematics, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Obias Chimbola
- Mathematics and Statistical Sciences, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana
| | - M Hellen Machingauta
- Mathematics and Statistical Sciences, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana
| | - Suzanne Lenhart
- Mathematics Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - K A Jane White
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
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14
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Brody C, Berkowitz RL, Chhoun P, Kaplan KC, Tuot S, Yi S. "Feeling clean": stigma and intravaginal practices among female entertainment workers in Cambodia. BMC WOMENS HEALTH 2021; 21:127. [PMID: 33765990 PMCID: PMC7993474 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-021-01271-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Intravaginal practices (IVPs), methods used by women most often to manage vaginal hygiene and address perceived disruptions to vaginal health, may increase the risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This qualitative study explores the social, professional, and peer context surrounding IVPs, the experiences of self-cleaning or getting cleaned from a health professional, and the perceived impacts of IVPs among female entertainment workers (FEWs) in Cambodia. Methods In 2017, we conducted 27 focus group discussions from four provinces, and 16 follow-up semi-structured in-depth interviews with purposively selected participants in two provinces. Data collection occurred over three weeks, with concurrent data transcription and translation. The data from the transcripts were analyzed using Dedoose, an online, open-access qualitative analysis software. Two researchers independently labeled sections of transcripts associated with broader categories and subcategories based on the initial content analysis matrix and created codes. This process continued iteratively until a final coding schema and conceptual model was created. Results We found that IVPs are widely practiced among FEWs in Cambodia and are associated with internalized and enacted stigma. Stigma was an overarching theme that impacted the sub-themes of (1) messages about cleaning, (2) the cleaning process, and (3) the impact of cleaning. Experiences of enacted stigma and internalized stigma permeated conversations about IVP, including feeling pressured by peers to keep themselves clean, practicing internal cleaning after transactional sex, and being called dirty by health providers. Conclusions FEWs who practice IVP talk about it in the context of their lived experiences stigma and discrimination. Highly stigmatized practices such as IVP among FEWs may benefit from a harm reduction approach that emphasizes positive changes without judgment, coercion, or discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carinne Brody
- Public Health Program, College of Education and Health Sciences, Touro University California, Vallejo, CA, 94592, USA.
| | | | - Pheak Chhoun
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Kathryn C Kaplan
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sovannary Tuot
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Siyan Yi
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.,Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
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15
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Lisecki SR, Solomon S, Kassa G, King EJ. Factors associated with recent HIV testing uptake and HIV-positive serostatus among female sex workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Glob Public Health 2020; 17:431-443. [PMID: 33378626 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2020.1868015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The HIV burden is high among female sex workers (FSW) in Ethiopia, yet HIV testing coverage is suboptimal. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 137 FSW in Addis Ababa. We examined factors related to recent HIV testing and self-reported HIV serostatus using logistic regression. HIV prevalence was 10%; and among HIV-negative participants, 63% reported recent HIV testing. Involvement in sex work for ≥5 years (aOR 3.25; 95% CI 1.22, 8.69; p-value 0.02) and hormonal contraceptive use (aOR 3.37; 95% CI 1.09, 10.41; p-value 0.03) were significantly associated with recent HIV testing. Involvement in sex work for ≥5 years (aOR 13.13, 95% CI 1.31 132.01, p-value 0.03), drug use (aOR 8.02; 95% CI 1.36, 47.31; p-value 0.02), and having a job other than sex work (aOR 122.05, 95% CI 2.97 > 999.99, p-value 0.01) were significantly associated with self-reported HIV-positive serostatus. These results identify areas to target future HIV risk-reduction interventions for FSW in Ethiopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelbi R Lisecki
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Samrawit Solomon
- Department of Public Health, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Elizabeth J King
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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16
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West BS, Becerra Ramirez M, Bristow CC, Abramovitz DA, Vera A, Staines H, Gudelia Rangel M, Patterson TL, Strathdee SA. Correlates of trichomoniasis among female sex workers who inject drugs in two Mexico-US border cities. Int J STD AIDS 2020; 31:866-875. [PMID: 32623979 DOI: 10.1177/0956462420929463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This paper evaluates correlates of trichomoniasis among female sex workers who inject drugs (FSWIDs) in two Mexico-US border cities. HIV-negative FSWIDs aged 18 years or older were enrolled in a study between 2008 and 2010 in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez (Cd.), Mexico. All participants underwent a baseline interviewer-administered survey and did a rapid test for trichomoniasis. Using regression to estimate prevalence ratios, we examined sociodemographics, sex work characteristics, sexual health and behavior, substance use, and police and violence exposures as potential correlates of trichomoniasis. Of 584 women (284 in Tijuana, 300 in Cd. Juarez), prevalence of trichomoniasis was 33.6%. Factors associated with trichomoniasis in multivariable analysis were having money stolen by police in the past six months (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] =1.448, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.152-1.821), recent methamphetamine use (aPR = 1.432, CI = 1.055-1.944), lifetime syphilis infection (aPR = 1.360, CI = 1.061-1.743), ever use of a home remedy to treat vaginal symptoms (aPR = 1.301, CI = 1.027-1.649), and number of regular clients in the past month (aPR = 1.006 per client, CI = 1.004-1.009), while controlling for age and city of interview. Alongside the need for trichomoniasis surveillance and treatment programs, findings indicate that both structural and behavioral factors serve as primary correlates of trichomoniasis among FSWIDs in these cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke S West
- Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY, USA
| | - Milagros Becerra Ramirez
- Department of Family Medicine, University of California Los Angeles International Medical Graduate Program, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Claire C Bristow
- Department of Medicine, Division of Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Daniela A Abramovitz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alicia Vera
- Department of Medicine, Division of Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Hugo Staines
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México
| | | | - Thomas L Patterson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Steffanie A Strathdee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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17
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Hakim AJ, Callahan T, Benech I, Patel M, Adler M, Modi S, Bateganya M, Parris KA, Bingham T. Addressing Vulnerable Population Needs in the Last Mile to the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV: (Re)Claiming the HIV Response for Female Sex Workers and Their Children. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1015. [PMID: 32590975 PMCID: PMC7320569 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09114-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
As countries strive to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, female sex workers (FSW) and their children still face barriers to accessing these essential services. Data on FSW uptake of HIV and reproductive health services before, during, and after pregnancy reveal inadequate service utilization. Stigma encountered by FSW in healthcare settings may contribute to low uptake of HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and other prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) services. Coordination between community-based FSW and facility-based PMTCT programs can facilitate successful linkage of pregnant FSW to antenatal services to support PMTCT efforts. We offer a way forward to reach 90-90-90 targets for FSW and their families and eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avi J Hakim
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, US2-1, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
| | - Tegan Callahan
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, US2-1, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Irene Benech
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, US2-1, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Monita Patel
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, US2-1, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Michelle Adler
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, US2-1, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Surbhi Modi
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, US2-1, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Moses Bateganya
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, US2-1, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Kae Anne Parris
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, US2-1, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Trista Bingham
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, US2-1, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
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18
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Mbeda C, Ogendo A, Lando R, Schnabel D, Gust DA, Guo X, Akelo V, Dominguez K, Panchia R, Mbilizi Y, Chen Y, Chege W. Healthcare-related stigma among men who have sex with men and transgender women in sub-Saharan Africa participating in HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 075 study. AIDS Care 2020; 32:1052-1060. [PMID: 32500722 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2020.1776824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The inability to access health services when needed is a critical barrier to HIV prevention, treatment and care among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW). Using data collected in HPTN 075, we explored factors associated with any experienced healthcare-related stigma. HPTN 075 was a cohort study to assess the feasibility of recruiting and retaining MSM and TGW in clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa. Of 401 MSM and TGW enrolled at four sites (Kisumu, Kenya; Blantyre, Malawi; Cape Town, Soweto, South Africa) 397 contributed to the analysis (79.9% cis-gender and 20.1% TGW). Of these, (45.3%; 180/397) reported one or more of healthcare-related stigma experiences. Most frequently reported experiences included fear to seek healthcare services (36.3%) and avoiding seeking such services because of the discovery of MSM status (29.2%). Few men and TGW (2.5%) reported having been denied health services because of having sex with men. In multivariable analysis, more participants in Soweto [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.60] and fewer participants in Blantyre (AOR = 0.27) reported any healthcare-related stigma experiences, in comparison to participants in Kisumu. MSM and TGW that did not have a supportive gay community to rely on were more likely to report any healthcare-related stigma experiences (AOR = 1.46), whereas MSM and TGW who reported high social support and who never had engaged in transactional sex were less likely to report such experiences (AOR = 0.76 and AOR = 0.43, respectively). Our results suggest that encouraging support groups for MSM and TGW as well as training and sensitizing healthcare staff, and the general community, on MSM and TGW health issues and cultural competence may reduce stigma, improve access to healthcare, which could ultimately reduce HIV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - David Schnabel
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Deborah A Gust
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Xu Guo
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Victor Akelo
- Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Ravindre Panchia
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Yamikani Mbilizi
- Malawi College of Medicine - Johns Hopkins University Research Project, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Ying Chen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Wairimu Chege
- Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | -
- Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
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Abstract
Stigma has negatively influenced the lives of people living with HIV since the beginning of the epidemic. It affects every facet of their lives and can cause mental health problems, loss of human rights, and barriers to care. Studies in developing countries have shown a high prevalence of HIV stigma among health care workers. Few studies have been conducted in the United States. We used a validated instrument to survey 330 health care workers in Washington, DC, a high HIV prevalence area. The goal was to obtain data to assess the severity of the problem. We found that stigmatizing beliefs and attitudes were prevalent as reflected in responses from 66% of the participants. Of clinicians surveyed, 31% reported using double gloves. Participants with stigma training had lower stigma levels, whereas older individuals and support staff were more stigmatizing. Negative attitudes affect access to care and have major public health implications.
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20
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Edi Putra IGN, Januraga PP. Social Capital and HIV Testing Uptake among Indirect Female Sex Workers in Bali, Indonesia. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020; 5:tropicalmed5020073. [PMID: 32392824 PMCID: PMC7345714 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed5020073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Indirect female sex workers (FSWs), a type of FSW working under the cover of entertainment enterprises (e.g., karaoke lounge, bar, etc.), remain as an important key population for HIV transmission, signaling the need of appropriate interventions targeting HIV-related behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the association between social capital and HIV testing uptake. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 indirect FSWs in Denpasar, Bali. The dependent variable was HIV testing uptake in the last six months preceding the survey. The main independent variables were social capital constructs: social cohesion (perceived peer support and trust) and social participation. Variables of socio-demographic characteristics were controlled in this study to adjust the influence of social capital. Binary logistic regression was performed. The prevalence of HIV testing in the last six months was 72.50%. The multivariate analysis showed that only peer support from the social capital constructs was associated with HIV testing uptake. Indirect FSWs who perceived a high level of support within FSWs networks were 2.98-times (95% CI = 1.43–6.24) more likely to report for HIV testing. Meanwhile, perceived trust and social participation did not show significant associations in relation to HIV testing uptake. As social cohesion (support) within FSWs’ relationships can play an important role in HIV testing uptake, existing HIV prevention programs should consider support enhancement to develop a sense of belonging and solidarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Gusti Ngurah Edi Putra
- School of Health and Society, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
| | - Pande Putu Januraga
- Center for Public Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Denpasar, Bali 80361, Indonesia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +6281246180389
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21
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Busza J, Chiyaka T, Musemburi S, Fearon E, Davey C, Chabata S, Mushati P, Dirawo J, Napierala S, Phillips AN, Cowan FM, Hargreaves JR. Enhancing national prevention and treatment services for sex workers in Zimbabwe: a process evaluation of the SAPPH-IRe trial. Health Policy Plan 2020; 34:337-345. [PMID: 31157368 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czz037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted HIV interventions for female sex workers (FSW) combine biomedical technologies, behavioural change and community mobilization with the aim of empowering FSW and improving prevention and treatment. Understanding how to deliver combined interventions most effectively in sub-Saharan Africa is critical to the HIV response. The Sisters' Antiretroviral Programme for Prevention of HIV: an Integrated Response (SAPPH-Ire) randomized controlled trial in Zimbabwe tested an intervention to improve FSW engagement with HIV services. After 2 years, results of the trial showed no significant difference between study arms in proportion of FSW with HIV viral load ≥1000 copies/ml as steep declines occurred in both. We present the results of a process evaluation aiming to track the intervention's implementation, assess its feasibility and accessibility, and situate trial results within the national HIV policy context. We conducted a mixed methods study using data from routine programme statistics, qualitative interviews with participants and respondent driven surveys. The intervention proved feasible to deliver and was acceptable to FSW and providers. Intervention clinics saw more new FSW (4082 vs 2754), performed over twice as many HIV tests (2606 vs 1151) and nearly double the number of women were diagnosed with HIV (1042 vs 546). Community mobilization meetings in intervention sites also attracted higher numbers. We identified some gaps in programme fidelity: offering pre-exposure prophylaxis took time to engage FSW, viral load monitoring was not performed, and ratio of peer educators to FSW was lower than intended. During the trial, reaching FSW with HIV testing and treatment became a national priority, leading to increasing attendance at both intervention and control clinics. Throughout Zimbabwe, antiretroviral therapy coverage improved and HIV-stigma declined. Zimbabwe's changing HIV policy context appeared to contribute to positive improvements across the HIV care continuum for all FSW over the course of the trial. More intense community-based interventions for FSW may be needed to make further gains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Busza
- Centre for Evaluation, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
| | - Tarisai Chiyaka
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, 9 Monmouth Road, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Sithembile Musemburi
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, 9 Monmouth Road, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Elizabeth Fearon
- Centre for Evaluation, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
| | - Calum Davey
- Centre for Evaluation, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
| | - Sungai Chabata
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, 9 Monmouth Road, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Phillis Mushati
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, 9 Monmouth Road, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Jeffrey Dirawo
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, 9 Monmouth Road, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Sue Napierala
- RTI International, 351 California Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andrew N Phillips
- Institute for Global Health, UCL, Royal Free Hospital, Rowland Hill Street, London, UK and
| | - Frances M Cowan
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, 9 Monmouth Road, Harare, Zimbabwe.,Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Pl, Liverpool, UK
| | - James R Hargreaves
- Centre for Evaluation, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
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Bernier A, Rumyantseva T, Reques L, Volkova N, Kyburz Y, Maximov O, Derrienic E, Guschin A, Bouscaillou J, Luhmann N, Pataut D. HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Moscow (Russia): prevalence and associated risk factors. Sex Transm Infect 2020; 96:601-607. [PMID: 32188772 DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2019-054299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with HIV and five other STIs among outdoor female sex workers (OSFW) and indoor FSW (IFSW). METHODS Cross-sectional survey using respondent-driven sampling methodology. Participants answered a bio-behavioural questionnaire and were tested for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), syphilis (lifetime contact) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG). Weighted HIV and other STIs prevalence and 95% CIs were calculated. Weighted multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with having at least one STI (including HIV). RESULTS Between October 2017 and July 2018, 385 FSW participants were recruited, among whom 206 (53.5%) were IFSW and 179 (46.5%) were OFSW. The mean age was 31.4 years. Weighted HIV prevalence was 3.1% (95% CI 1.5 to 7.0). Weighted prevalence of other STIs was: 4.1% (95% CI 2.2 to 8.0) for NG, 8.8% (95% CI 5.9 to 13.0) for CT, 12.7% (95% CI 8.6 to 18.0) for TV, 13.9% (95% CI 9.9 to 19.0) for syphilis (lifetime contact) and 14.9% (95% CI 10.5 to 21.0) for MG. STI prevalence was significantly higher among OFSW for CT, TV and MG (p<0.001). In total, 43.2% of the participants had at least one HIV/STI. Factors associated with having HIV/STI were being an OFSW (OR 3.29; 95% CI 1.72 to 6.27); being registered in another Russian region (2.61 (95% CI 1.05 to 6.48)); having never been tested for HIV (2.51 (95% CI 0.98 to 6.41)) and having a low level of knowledge regarding HIV transmission (4.88 (95% CI 0.96 to 24.78)). CONCLUSION Prevalence of HIV and STIs was high among FSW in Moscow. OFSW were more vulnerable to STIs. There is an urgent need to tailor programmes for sexual and reproductive health for FSW in Russia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tatiana Rumyantseva
- Médecins du Monde, Moscow, Russia.,Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Alexander Guschin
- Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Moscow, Russia.,Moscow Research and Practical Center for Dermato-Venerology and Cosmetology, Department of Healthcare, Moscow, Russia
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Moazzami M, Ketende S, Lyons C, Rao A, Taruberekera N, Nkonyana J, Mothopeng T, Schwartz S, Baral S. Characterizing Multi-level Determinants of HIV Prevalence Among Female Sex Workers in Maseru and Maputsoe, Lesotho. AIDS Behav 2020; 24:714-723. [PMID: 31041624 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-019-02495-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Lesotho has a broadly generalized HIV epidemic with nearly one in three reproductive-aged women living with HIV. Given this context, there has been limited research on specific HIV risks. In response, this study aimed to characterize the burden of HIV and multi-level correlates of HIV infection amongst female sex workers (FSW) in Lesotho. Respondent driven sampling was used to recruit 744 FSW from February to September 2014 in Maseru and Maputsoe, Lesotho. Robust Poisson regression was used to model weighted prevalence ratios (PR) for HIV, leveraging a modified social ecological model. The HIV prevalence among participants was 71.9% (534/743), with a mean age of 26.8 (SD 7.2). Both individual and structural determinants involving stigma were significantly associated with HIV. Women with the highest enacted stigma score (≥ 5) had a 26% higher prevalence of HIV than individuals that did not experience any stigma (PR 1.26, 95% CI 1.01, 1.57). These data reinforce the extraordinarily high burden of HIV borne by FSW even in the context of the generalized HIV epidemic observed in Lesotho and across southern Africa. Moreover, stigma represents a structural determinant that is fundamental to an effective HIV response for FSW in Lesotho.
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Parmley LE, Comins CA, Young K, Mcingana M, Phetlhu DR, Guddera V, Mkhize H, Hausler H, Baral S, Schwartz S. Occupational barriers to accessing and adhering to antiretroviral therapy for female sex workers living with HIV in South Africa. Occup Environ Med 2020; 77:100-106. [PMID: 31911541 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2019-105947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES While female sex workers (FSW) are nearly 14 times more likely to be living with HIV than non-FSW, less than 40% of FSW living with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). We sought to understand how the work environment influences ART access and adherence for FSW in preparation for the Siyaphambili trial. METHODS FSW living with HIV (n=24) and key informants (n=15) were recruited to participate in semistructured in-depth interviews using maximum variation and snowball sampling, respectively. FSW were recruited on key variants including type of sex work venue, primary work time and history of ART use. Data were collected between September and November 2017 in Durban, South Africa. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and translated. Data were then coded applying grounded theory in Atlas.ti. RESULTS FSW experienced occupational barriers to adherence including work-related migration, substance use and theft of ART on the job. Fear of wage loss due to HIV disclosure to clients and brothel managers prevented some FSW from accessing ART at their clinic and taking medications while working. FSW employed coping strategies to overcome barriers including sharing ART with colleagues, carrying small supplies of ART and visiting the clinic prior to appointments for ART refills. Further, some FSW received adherence support from colleagues who were also living with HIV. CONCLUSIONS Considering these occupational pressures on FSW and supporting positive coping strategies are important when designing and implementing HIV treatment programmes. Findings suggest strengthening social cohesion and supporting differentiated care efforts to improve HIV outcomes among FSW living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Parmley
- ICAP, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA .,Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carly A Comins
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | - Vijay Guddera
- Key Populations Programme, TB HIV Care, Durban, South Africa
| | | | | | - Stefan Baral
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sheree Schwartz
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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ADAMS JW, MARSHALL BD, MOHD SALLEH NA, BARRIOS R, NOLAN S, MILLOY MJ. Receipt of opioid agonist treatment halves the risk of HIV-1 RNA viral load rebound through improved ART adherence for HIV-infected women who use illicit drugs. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 206:107670. [PMID: 31711873 PMCID: PMC7012150 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women living with HIV who use illicit drugs may be particularly vulnerable to HIV-1 RNA viral load (VL) rebound. METHODS We used longitudinal data from 2006 to 2017 to evaluate the impact of sociodemographic, behavioral, social-structural, and clinical factors on the hazard of viral rebound for women enrolled in the ACCESS study, a prospective cohort with systematic VL monitoring. Women were included if they achieved VL suppression (<50 copies/mL) following antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and had more than one study interview. Sociodemographic as well as substance use, social-structural, addiction treatment, and HIV clinical factors were evaluated as predictors of viral rebound (VL > 1000 copies/mL). Cox regressions using a recurrent events framework, time-varying covariates, robust standard errors, and a frailty component were used. RESULTS Of the 185 women included, 62 (34%) experienced at least one viral rebound event over an 11-year period, accumulating a total of 87 viral rebound events. In adjusted analysis, stimulant use more than doubled the hazard of viral rebound (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]: 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-5.14) while the only factor protective against viral rebound was receipt of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) in the past six months (AHR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.26-0.81). After adjusting for ART adherence in the past six months, the effect of OAT was attenuated (AHR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.32-1.02). CONCLUSIONS Efforts to improve access to and retention within OAT programs and decrease stimulant use may improve rates of viral suppression for HIV-positive women who use illicit drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joëlla W. ADAMS
- Brown University School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903, United States
| | - Brandon D.L. MARSHALL
- Brown University School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903, United States
| | - Nur Afiqah MOHD SALLEH
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada,Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program, University of British Columbia, 170-6371 Crescent Road, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Rolando BARRIOS
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrad Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Seonaid NOLAN
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
| | - M-J MILLOY
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada,Corresponding author: Address: British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Tel: +1(604)806-9142, Fax: +1(604)806-9044,
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Hawk ME, Chung A, Creasy SL, Egan JE. A Scoping Review of Patient Preferences for HIV Self-Testing Services in the United States: Implications for Harm Reduction. Patient Prefer Adherence 2020; 14:2365-2375. [PMID: 33293799 PMCID: PMC7719302 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s251677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite marked progress in the ability to test for, treat, and prevent HIV, the epidemic remains a significant public health concern, especially among key populations including prisoners; sex workers; transgender individuals; gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM); and Black and Latinx MSM. This scoping review was conducted to provide an overview of the current research describing patient preferences for HIVST in the United States to understand what key populations value about HIVST and why they are willing to use it. A targeted search for published literature on patient preferences for HIVST was conducted using Ovid Medline, PsychINFO, and an HIVST research database. RESULTS We reviewed 700 abstracts and 139 full texts. We found 19 articles published between January 2014 and April 2020 that included findings related to HIVST preferences. Overall, HIVST was preferred to more traditional testing. Six primary factors emerged as important HIVST values including: 1) convenience, 2) type of test; 3) cost, 4) stigma reduction, 5) risk reduction, and 6) self-control. Linkage to care was also identified as a key factor when considering HIVST as an option. Much of what makes HIVST attractive to individuals is their ability to self-determine how HIVST can be best integrated into their lives as a harm reduction tool for stigma and sexual risk mitigation. CONCLUSION While there is substantial evidence suggesting HIVST is feasible for use and there are aspects of HIVST that are beneficial and preferred over traditional testing approaches, there is a lack of rigorous implementation studies exploring how best to scale up HIVST in community settings. HIVST has the potential to be a powerful biobehavioral HIV prevention and harm reduction tool to empower individuals to engage with testing on their own terms while providing pathways to prevention and care support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Hawk
- Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for LGBT Health Research, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Evaluation Institute, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Correspondence: Mary E Hawk Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA15261, USATel +1-412-648-2342 Email
| | - Ashley Chung
- Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie L Creasy
- Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for LGBT Health Research, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Evaluation Institute, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - James E Egan
- Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for LGBT Health Research, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Evaluation Institute, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Goldenberg S, Watt S, Braschel M, Hayashi K, Moreheart S, Shannon K. Police-related barriers to harm reduction linked to non-fatal overdose amongst sex workers who use drugs: Results of a community-based cohort in Metro Vancouver, Canada. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2019; 76:102618. [PMID: 31838244 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.102618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High rates of overdose and overdose-related mortality in North America represent a pressing health and social concern. Women sex workers face severe health and social inequities, which have been linked to structural factors including negative police interactions; however, little is known regarding the burden of overdose or how policing impacts overdose risk amongst sex workers who use drugs. Given this, we aimed to explore the independent effects of experiencing police-related barriers to harm reduction on non-fatal overdose amongst women sex workers who use drugs in Metro Vancouver, Canada over a 7.5-year period. METHODS Data were drawn from An Evaluation of Sex Workers Health Access (AESHA), a community-based open prospective cohort of women sex workers in Metro Vancouver, from 2010 to 2017. Using multivariate logistic regression with generalized estimating equations (GEE), we used a confounder modeling approach to identify the independent effect of experiencing police-related barriers to harm reduction strategies on non-fatal overdose amongst sex workers using drugs within the last six months at each study visit. RESULTS Amongst 624 participants, 7.7% overdosed within the last six months at baseline and 27.6% overdosed during the study period, contributing 287 non-fatal overdose events over the 7.5-year period. 68.6% reported police-related barriers to harm reduction strategies during the study. In a multivariate confounder model, exposure to police-related barriers to harm reduction strategies [AOR: 2.15, CI: 1.60-2.90] was independently associated with higher odds of non-fatal overdose after adjustment for key confounders. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that in the context of the current overdose crisis, adversarial policing practices may undermine access to lifesaving overdose prevention services and exacerbate overdose risks for marginalized women. Findings underscore the urgent need to scale-up access and remove barriers to progressive harm reduction strategies for women sex workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shira Goldenberg
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Sarah Watt
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Melissa Braschel
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada; BC Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
| | - Sarah Moreheart
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Kate Shannon
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 5804 Fairview Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
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28
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Cernigliaro D, Barrington C, Donastorg Y, Perez M, Kerrigan D. Patient-provider communication about pregnancy and HIV among female sex workers living with HIV in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019; 19:427. [PMID: 31752743 PMCID: PMC6868801 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-019-2482-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Health providers can play an important role in communication about pregnancy, particularly for women at increased risk for pregnancy complications, including female sex workers (FSWs) living with HIV. This study explored factors related to patient-provider communication about pregnancy among 253 FSWs living with HIV of reproductive age in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed including structured socio-behavioral surveys. Data were analyzed utilizing bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results Of the 253 FSWs living with HIV in this study, 95.7% had been pregnant at least once (median: 4; IQR: 3,6), 28.0% wanted more children and 36% reported a pregnancy after HIV diagnosis. Over half of participants (58.0%) reported having ever spoken to a health provider about pregnancy while living with HIV. Multivariate logistic regression found significant associations between having spoken to a health provider about HIV in pregnancy and a more positive perception of their provider (AOR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.5) and years since HIV diagnosis (AOR: 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0, 1.1). Participants were less likely to speak with a provider if they had a history of drug use (AOR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.9) or current alcohol use (AOR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.9). Conclusion Findings highlight the importance of non-judgmental and tailored provider-initiated conversations surrounding pregnancy. Future research is needed to better understand how and when pregnancy communication is initiated, as well as the content of clinical care conversations, to address the reproductive health of FSWs living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Cernigliaro
- The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway HH 257, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Clare Barrington
- The University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Rosenau Hall 319B, CB#7440, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yeycy Donastorg
- Instituto Dermatologico y Cirugia de la Piel, Albert Thomas, 66, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Martha Perez
- Instituto Dermatologico y Cirugia de la Piel, Albert Thomas, 66, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Deanna Kerrigan
- The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway HH 257, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Center on Health, Risk & Society, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC, NW, 20016, USA.
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Ferraz D, Couto MT, Zucchi EM, Calazans GJ, dos Santos LA, Mathias A, Grangeiro A. AIDS- and sexuality-related stigmas underlying the use of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV in Brazil: findings from a multicentric study. Sex Reprod Health Matters 2019; 27:1650587. [PMID: 31533555 PMCID: PMC7888039 DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2019.1650587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
AIDS-related stigma is a major hurdle to care and it hinders people from accessing HIV prevention methods, such as post-exposure prophylaxis. This study was designed to explore how AIDS-related stigma impacts the experience of using non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) for HIV after sexual contact. Data were gathered in in-depth interviews with 59 people who voluntarily sought out nPEP in five public healthcare facilities in Brazil between 2015 and 2016. Data were analysed into three thematic categories: fear of being mistaken for a person living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA); desire to hide particular features of one's sexual life; and experiences of stigmatising behaviour due to nPEP use. Based on the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework, predominant manifestations of AIDS-related stigma in each category were analysed, as well as their intersections with gender- and sexuality-related stigmas. Results show that experiences of using nPEP are permeated by AIDS-related stigma, intersecting with sexuality- and gender-related stigmas. Stigma experiences are mainly perceived, anticipated and internalised; stigma practices include prejudice and stigmatising behaviours. Taking antiretrovirals (ARVs) led participants to the fear of being discriminated against as a PLWHA and having particular features of their sexual identities disclosed. Thus, hiding nPEP was strategic to protect from stigmatising behaviour. As ARV-based prevention technologies are scaled-up, interventions designed to tackle AIDS- and sexuality-related stigmas must be expanded in Brazil. Required interventions include public campaigns about nPEP, educational programmes in healthcare settings to offer adequate support to nPEP users and investments in stigma research and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dulce Ferraz
- Public Health Analyst, Escola de Governo em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brasília, Brazil
- PhD Candidate, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Eliana Miura Zucchi
- Assistant Professor at Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Católica de Santos, Santos, Brazil
| | | | | | - Augusto Mathias
- PhD Candidate, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Grangeiro
- Researcher, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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30
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Brito AMD, Szwarcwald CL, Damacena GN, Dourado IC. HIV testing coverage among female sex workers, Brazil, 2016. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE EPIDEMIOLOGIA 2019; 22Suppl 1:e190006. [PMID: 31576982 DOI: 10.1590/1980-549720190006.supl.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Knowing the factors associated with periodic HIV testing among female sex workers (FSW) is essential to expand testing coverage and to broaden programs of treatment as prevention. METHODS We used data from 4,328 FSWs recruited by the respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method in 12 Brazilian cities in 2016. Data analysis considered the complex sampling design. The prevalence of HIV testing in the last year and periodic HIV test were estimated. Factors associated with regular HIV testing were identified through logistic regression models. RESULTS The testing coverage in the last year was 39.3%. Only 13.5% of FSW reported having performed a periodic HIV test in the last year. Among the factors associated with the higher probability of HIV testing in the last year were a better level of education, living with a partner, working indoors, consistent use of condoms, and regular use of public and private health services stood out. DISCUSSION Periodic HIV testing allows early diagnosis and immediate treatment of cases, reducing the chances of spreading the infection to the population. However, factors such as stigma and discrimination hinder the use of regular health services. CONCLUSION It is necessary to expand awareness campaigns, especially among FSWs with low educational level and greater vulnerability, in order to broaden the perception of risk and the importance of periodic testing, in addition to encouraging regular health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria de Brito
- Department of Collective Health, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - Recife (PE), Brazil
| | - Célia Landmann Szwarcwald
- Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil
| | - Giseli Nogueira Damacena
- Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil
| | - Inês Costa Dourado
- Department of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia - Salvador (BA), Brazil
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Terskova MA, Agadullina ER. Dehumanization of dirty workers and attitudes toward social support. JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria A. Terskova
- School of Psychology National Research University Higher School of Economics Moscow Russia
| | - Elena R. Agadullina
- School of Psychology National Research University Higher School of Economics Moscow Russia
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Tokar A, Sazonova I, Mishra S, Smyrnov P, Saliuk T, Lazarus JV, Broerse JEW, Roura M, Blanchard J, Becker ML. HIV testing behaviour and HIV prevalence among female sex workers in Ukraine: findings from an Integrated Bio-Behavioural Survey, 2013-2014. Sex Transm Infect 2019; 95:193-200. [PMID: 30842347 PMCID: PMC6580746 DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2018-053684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Ukraine has one of the largest HIV epidemics in Europe, with high prevalence among female sex workers (FSWs). We aimed to identify factors associated with HIV testing and receipt of the test result in the last 12 months, HIV prevalence and self-reported positive status among FSWs in Ukraine. METHODS We used data from an Integrated Bio-Behavioural Survey among FSWs conducted in 2013-2014. The survey methodology combined three sampling strategies: time and location sampling, respondent-driven sampling and key informant recruitment. We used multivariable regression to identify factors associated with self-reported HIV testing in the last 12 months, HIV prevalence and self-reported positive status among FSWs living with HIV. Explored factors included: age, age at first sex, age at entry into sex work, education, marital status, employment status beside sex work, condom use with last paying or non-paying sexual partner, drug or alcohol consumption and sex work venue. RESULTS Recent HIV testing was low overall with only 63.2% of FSWs reported having tested and received their test result in the last 12 months prior to the survey. HIV prevalence was 7.1% overall, but only 45.0% of FSWs living with HIV were aware of their HIV status. Testing in the last 12 months with receipt of test result was less common among FSWs who used drugs ever in life (adjusted OR (AOR) 0.7, 95% CI 0.6 to 0.9), women soliciting clients indoors (AOR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7 to 0.9) and those not using a condom with last paying sexual partner (AOR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.5). HIV positivity was associated with history of ever using drugs (AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4 to 3.6) and soliciting clients outdoors (AOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.0). Women working indoors were less aware of their positive status (AOR 0.1, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.9). CONCLUSION HIV prevalence is high among FSWs in Ukraine, and testing and knowledge of one's status remain insufficient. HIV testing programmes need to expand with strategies to reach specific subgroups of FSWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tokar
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iana Sazonova
- International Charitable Foundation 'Alliance for Public Health, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Sharmistha Mishra
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pavlo Smyrnov
- International Charitable Foundation 'Alliance for Public Health, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Tetiana Saliuk
- International Charitable Foundation 'Alliance for Public Health, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Jeffrey V Lazarus
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jacqueline E W Broerse
- Faculty of Science, Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Roura
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Public and Patient Involvement Research Unit, Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - James Blanchard
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Centre for Global Public Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Marissa L Becker
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Centre for Global Public Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Dourado I, Guimarães MDC, Damacena GN, Magno L, de Souza Júnior PRB, Szwarcwald CL. Sex work stigma and non-disclosure to health care providers: data from a large RDS study among FSW in Brazil. BMC INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS 2019; 19:8. [PMID: 30832659 PMCID: PMC6399834 DOI: 10.1186/s12914-019-0193-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Stigma in health services may be detrimental to health seeking attitudes and practices. This study investigates non-disclosure of sex work to health care providers among female sex workers (FSW) in Brazil and its association with the utilization of health care services. Methods This study used cross-sectional respondent-driven sampling, carried out in 12 Brazilian cities to identify HIV risk behaviors among FSW. We first assessed statistical associations of sociodemographic, human right violations, health service access and utilization, and discrimination variables with non-disclosure of FSW status to health care providers as outcome. Secondly, we investigated the association of non-disclosure of FSW status with selected preventive health care outcomes: HIV testing, PAP smear exam, and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals were calculated by multivariable logistic regressions. Results Among 4245 recruited FSW, a high percentage received free condoms (82%) but only 24.4% were counseled on STI. Most FSW used non-specialized public healthcare routinely (62.6%), but only 51.5% had a Pap smear exam in the last two years and less than 40% were tested for HIV in the last 12 months. Among FSW who engaged in risky behavior (49.6%), only 8.3% used PEP. Regarding human rights violations, approximately 15% were required to give part of their earnings to owners of workplace establishments, 38% started sex work under 18 years old and 6% were required to periodically present their HIV test results. 21.3% reported having faced discrimination in health services, and 24.3% always disclosed their FSW status. Multivariable logistic models indicated significant associations of non-disclosure on the four healthcare outcomes, with lower odds of using preventive health services among women who did not disclose their sex work status, even after controlling for age, educational level, NGO affiliation, and type of health care routinely used. Conclusions Our results indicate that sex work stigmatization within health services may be one of the main barriers to STI control and HIV response among FSW. It is essential to combat stigmatization and discrimination against FSW in health services to guarantee the appropriate uptake of preventive services available in the public health system in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Dourado
- Collective Health Institute, Federal University of Bahia, Av. Basílio da Gama, s/n, Campus Universitário do Canela, Salvador, Bahia, 40110-040, Brazil.
| | | | - Giseli Nogueira Damacena
- Institute of Scientific Communication and Information on Public Health of Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Laio Magno
- Department of Life Sciences, Bahia State University, Campus 1, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | | | - Celia Landmann Szwarcwald
- Institute of Scientific Communication and Information on Public Health of Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Matovu JKB, Musinguzi G, Kiguli J, Nuwaha F, Mujisha G, Musinguzi J, Arinaitwe J, Wanyenze RK. Health providers' experiences, perceptions and readiness to provide HIV services to men who have sex with men and female sex workers in Uganda - a qualitative study. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:214. [PMID: 30832612 PMCID: PMC6400025 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-3713-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Access to HIV services among men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSWs) remains suboptimal globally. While the reasons for this dismal performance have been documented, limited evidence exists on the experiences, perceptions and readiness of health providers to provide HIV services to MSM and FSWs. Methods This analysis uses data collected from 48 key informants (health providers in public and private health facilities) as part of a larger study conducted in 12 districts of Uganda between October and December 2013. Data were collected on health providers’ experiences and readiness to provide HIV services to MSM and FSWs and their perceptions on the effect of existing legislation on HIV services provision to MSM and FSWs. Data were captured verbatim, transcribed and analyzed following a thematic framework approach. Results All health providers reported that they had ever provided HIV services to FSWs and a majority of them were comfortable serving them. However, no health provider had ever served MSM. When asked if they would be willing to serve MSM, nearly three-quarters of the health providers indicated that they would be bound by the call of duty to serve them. However, some health providers reported that they “would feel very uncomfortable” handling MSM because they engage in “a culture imported into our country”. A majority of the health providers felt that they did not have adequate skills to effectively serve MSM and called for specific training to improve their clinical skills. There were mixed reactions as to whether existing criminal laws would affect MSM or FSWs access to HIV services but there was agreement that access to HIV services, under the existing laws, would be more constrained for MSM than FSWs since society “does not blame FSWs [as much as it does] with MSM”. Conclusion A majority of the health providers were generally comfortable serving FSWs but there were strong homophobic tendencies towards MSM. A majority of the health providers lacked skills in how to handle MSM. Interventions aimed at improving health providers’ skills in handling MSM while minimizing the negative attitude towards them are urgently needed. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12879-019-3713-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph K B Matovu
- Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Geofrey Musinguzi
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Juliet Kiguli
- Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Fred Nuwaha
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Jim Arinaitwe
- AIDS Control Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Rhoda K Wanyenze
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
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Tokar A, Osborne J, Slobodianiuk K, Essink D, Lazarus JV, Broerse JEW. 'Virus Carriers' and HIV testing: navigating Ukraine's HIV policies and programming for female sex workers. Health Res Policy Syst 2019; 17:23. [PMID: 30819203 PMCID: PMC6394058 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-019-0415-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are an estimated 80,100 female sex workers (FSWs) in Ukraine, of whom 7% are living with HIV. Early HIV diagnosis continues to be a public health priority in Ukraine as only approximately 54% of people living with HIV are diagnosed nationwide. This study aims to analyse the content, context and discourse of HIV testing policies among female sex workers in Ukraine and how these policies are understood and implemented in practice. METHODS To analyse past and current national policies, we searched the database of the Ukrainian Parliament and the Ministry of Health for relevant policy documents (e.g. legislation and orders). To analyse the day-to-day practice of those involved in the implementation of these HIV programmes, we conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. All data were coded using deductive thematic analysis initially guided by the Policy Triangle, a framework which addresses policy content, the process of policy-making, the health policy context, actors involved in policy formulation and implementation. RESULTS HIV testing policies are formed and implemented in the post-Soviet context through a vertical system of AIDS clinics, resulting in the separation of key affected populations from the rest of the health system. Successive testing policies have been strongly influenced by international donors and non-governmental organisations. Furthermore, a lack of government funding for HIV prevention created a gap that international donors and local non-governmental organisations covered to ensure the implementation of testing policies. Their role, however, had limited influence on the Ukrainian government to increase funding for prevention, including testing of FSWs. Since the early 1990s, when stigmatising and discriminatory forced/mandatory HIV testing was applied, these approaches were slowly replaced with voluntary testing, self-testing and assisted HIV testing, yet stigma was found to be a barrier among FSWs to access testing. CONCLUSION Poor governance and the fragmentation of the health system, ongoing health sector reforms, shrinking international funding, and persisting stigma towards people living with HIV and sex workers might impede the continuity and sustainability of HIV testing programmes. Local civil society may now have the opportunity to contribute to the development and further implementation of HIV testing policies in Ukraine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tokar
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, Rosselló 132, 2nd, ES-08036, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jacob Osborne
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, 1085, NL-1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute (APH), De Boelelaan, 1085, Amsterdam, NL-1081 HV, Netherlands
| | - Kateryna Slobodianiuk
- International Charitable Foundation Alliance for Public Health, 9th floor, building 10A, 5 Dilova, Kyiv, 03150, Ukraine
| | - Dirk Essink
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, 1085, NL-1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute (APH), De Boelelaan, 1085, Amsterdam, NL-1081 HV, Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey V Lazarus
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, Rosselló 132, 2nd, ES-08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jacqueline E W Broerse
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, 1085, NL-1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute (APH), De Boelelaan, 1085, Amsterdam, NL-1081 HV, Netherlands
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A qualitative study on intersectional stigma and sexual health among women on opioid substitution treatment in England: Implications for research, policy and practice. Soc Sci Med 2019; 222:315-322. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Nnko S, Kuringe E, Nyato D, Drake M, Casalini C, Shao A, Komba A, Baral S, Wambura M, Changalucha J. Determinants of access to HIV testing and counselling services among female sex workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:15. [PMID: 30611219 PMCID: PMC6321716 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-6362-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV testing and counselling (HTC) is an essential component for HIV prevention and a critical entry point into the HIV continuum of care and treatment. Despite the importance of HTC for HIV control, access to HTC services among female sex workers (FSWs) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains suboptimal and little is known about factors influencing FSWs' access to HTC. Guided by the client-centred conceptual framework, we conducted a systematic review to understand the facilitators and barriers influencing FSWs in SSA to access HTC services. METHODS A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, POPLINE and Web of Science databases for literature published between January 2000 and July 2017. References of relevant articles were also searched. We included primary studies of any design, conducted in SSA and published in the English language. Studies conducted in multi-sites inclusive of SSA were included only if data from sites in SSA were separately analysed and reported. Similarly, studies that included other subpopulations were only eligible if a separate analysis was done for FSWs. This review excluded papers published as systematic reviews, editorial comments and mathematical modelling. The protocol for this review is registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), registration number CRD42017062203. RESULTS This review shows that factors related to approachability, acceptability, availability, affordability and appropriateness of the services are crucial in influencing access to HTC services among FSWs in SSA. These factors were mediated by individual attributes such as HIV risk perceptions, awareness of the availability of HTC, and perceptions of the importance and quality of HTC services. The decision to utilise HTC was predominantly hampered by discriminatory social norms such as HIV stigma and criminalisation of sex work. CONCLUSIONS FSWs' access to HTC is facilitated by multiple factors, including individual awareness of the availability of HTC services, and perceived quality of HTC especially with regard to assured confidentiality. Concerns about HIV stigma and fear about discrimination due to community intolerance of sex work acted as major barriers for FSWs to seek HTC services from the facilities offering health services to the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soori Nnko
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, National Institute for Medical Research, Isamilo Road, P.O Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Evodius Kuringe
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, National Institute for Medical Research, Isamilo Road, P.O Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Daniel Nyato
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, National Institute for Medical Research, Isamilo Road, P.O Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Mary Drake
- Sauti Program, Jhpiego Tanzania - an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, P.O Box 9170, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Caterina Casalini
- Sauti Program, Jhpiego Tanzania - an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, P.O Box 9170, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Amani Shao
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, National Institute for Medical Research, Isamilo Road, P.O Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Albert Komba
- Sauti Program, Jhpiego Tanzania - an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, P.O Box 9170, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Stefan Baral
- Key Populations Program, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, E7146, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Mwita Wambura
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, National Institute for Medical Research, Isamilo Road, P.O Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - John Changalucha
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, National Institute for Medical Research, Isamilo Road, P.O Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
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Medina-Perucha L, Family H, Scott J, Chapman S, Dack C. Factors Associated with Sexual Risks and Risk of STIs, HIV and Other Blood-Borne Viruses Among Women Using Heroin and Other Drugs: A Systematic Literature Review. AIDS Behav 2019; 23:222-251. [PMID: 30073636 PMCID: PMC6342849 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2238-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This systematic literature review identified factors associated with sexual risks related to sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV and other blood-borne viruses (BBV) among women using heroin and other drugs. The search strategy included five databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycNET, Web of Science, Scopus), and PsycEXTRA for grey literature. Out of the 12,135 publications screened, 30 peer-reviewed articles were included. Most publications were cross-sectional (n = 25), quantitative (n = 23) and included 11,305 women. Factors identified were: (1) socio-demographics; (2) gender roles and violence against women; (3) substance use; (4) transactional sex; (5) partner characteristics, partner’s drug use, and context of sex; (6) preferences, negotiation and availability of condoms; (7) HIV status and STIs; (8) number of sexual partners; (9) love and trust; (10) reproductive health and motherhood; and (11) risk awareness and perception of control. Overall, this review highlights important implications for future research and practice, and provides evidence for developing STI/BBV preventive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Medina-Perucha
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
- 5 West, 2.52, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
| | - H Family
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - J Scott
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - S Chapman
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - C Dack
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
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Tokar A, Broerse JEW, Blanchard J, Roura M. HIV Testing and Counseling Among Female Sex Workers: A Systematic Literature Review. AIDS Behav 2018; 22:2435-2457. [PMID: 29464430 PMCID: PMC6097720 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2043-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
HIV testing uptake continues to be low among Female Sex Workers (FSWs). We synthesizes evidence on barriers and facilitators to HIV testing among FSW as well as frequencies of testing, willingness to test, and return rates to collect results. We systematically searched the MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS databases for articles published in English between January 2000 and November 2017. Out of 5036 references screened, we retained 36 papers. The two barriers to HIV testing most commonly reported were financial and time costs—including low income, transportation costs, time constraints, and formal/informal payments—as well as the stigma and discrimination ascribed to HIV positive people and sex workers. Social support facilitated testing with consistently higher uptake amongst married FSWs and women who were encouraged to test by peers and managers. The consistent finding that social support facilitated HIV testing calls for its inclusion into current HIV testing strategies addressed at FSW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tokar
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, University of Barcelona, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Rosselló, 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - James Blanchard
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Manitoba University, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Maria Roura
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, University of Barcelona, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Rosselló, 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Public and Patient Involvement Research Unit, Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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Cernigliaro D, Barrington C, Perez M, Donastorg Y, Kerrigan D. Factors related to fertility desire among female sex workers living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. BMC WOMENS HEALTH 2018; 18:117. [PMID: 29970060 PMCID: PMC6029388 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-018-0613-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Female sex workers living with HIV are at increased risk for negative health outcomes and multiple levels of stigma. However, there is limited research on female sex workers living with HIV and even less focused on reproductive health. Methods We analyzed data using logistic regression from a cohort of 247 female sex workers of reproductive age living with HIV in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to assess factors associated with fertility desire. Results Most participants had children (93.1%; mean: 2.8; range: 1,8) and 28.3% reported fertility desire. Bivariate regression analysis uncovered that participants who desired children were less likely to report being on antiretroviral treatment and more likely to have a detectable viral load. Multivariate regression results showed participants who desired more children were: less likely to be older, have higher levels of HIV-related internalized stigma, have a history of pregnancy loss, have fewer children and have a perception that their partner has negative feelings about pregnancy. Conclusions Individual and interpersonal characteristics were found to be associated with fertility desire in this study. Additional in-depth research is needed to understand how the role of stigma, partner dynamics and reproductive history as it relates to fertility desire, in order to ensure the reproductive health and wellbeing of this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Cernigliaro
- The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway HH 257, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Clare Barrington
- The University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Martha Perez
- Instituto Dermatologico y Cirugia de la Piel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Yeycy Donastorg
- Instituto Dermatologico y Cirugia de la Piel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Deanna Kerrigan
- The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway HH 257, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Rodriguez A, Agardh A, Asamoah BO. Self-Reported Discrimination in Health-Care Settings Based on Recognizability as Transgender: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Transgender U.S. Citizens. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2018; 47:973-985. [PMID: 28785919 PMCID: PMC5891571 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-017-1028-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Discrimination has long been tied to health inequality. Rejected by families and communities because of their gender identity and gender-role behavior, transgender individuals are often socially marginalized. This study aimed to assess discrimination in health-care settings among persons self-identifying as transgender in the U.S. in relation to their recognizability as transgender, operationalized as how often they experienced that others recognized them as transgender. Data were obtained from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (n = 6106 participants, assigned sex at birth = 3608 males, 2480 females, respectively). Binary logistic regressions were performed to examine associations between transgender recognizability and discrimination in health-care settings. Being recognized as transgender to any extent had a significant effect on perceived discrimination in health care. Always recognized as transgender showed significant associations with discrimination in a health-care setting (OR 1.48) and the following individualized health-care settings: social service settings (rape crisis and domestic violence centers, OR 5.22) and mental health settings (mental health clinic and drug treatment program, OR 1.87). Sex work and other street economy, which are known experiential factors affected by discrimination, were also significantly associated with discrimination in health-care settings. Discrimination in health-care settings is pervasive for transgender who are recognized as transgender. Public health efforts to improve access to equitable health care for transgender individuals may benefit from consideration of demographic, experiential, and medical risk factors to more fully understand the source of the seemingly excess risk of discrimination among persons recognized by others as being transgender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Rodriguez
- Masters Programme in Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Anette Agardh
- Social Medicine and Global Health, Department of Clinical Sciences CRC, Lund University, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, House 28, Floor 12, 205 02, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Benedict Oppong Asamoah
- Social Medicine and Global Health, Department of Clinical Sciences CRC, Lund University, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, House 28, Floor 12, 205 02, Malmö, Sweden.
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Szwarcwald CL, Damacena GN, de Souza-Júnior PRB, Guimarães MDC, de Almeida WDS, de Souza Ferreira AP, Ferreira-Júnior ODC, Dourado I. Factors associated with HIV infection among female sex workers in Brazil. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:S54-S61. [PMID: 29912814 PMCID: PMC5991538 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000009013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Female sex workers (FSWs) are one of the most-at-risk population groups for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This paper aims at identifying the main predictors of HIV infection among FSW recruited in the 2nd Biological and Behavioral Surveillance Survey in 12 Brazilian cities in 2016. METHOD Data were collected on 4245 FSW recruited by respondent driven sampling (RDS). Weights were inversely proportional to participants' network sizes. To establish the correlates of HIV infection, we used logistic regression models taking into account the dependence of observations resultant from the recruitment chains. The analysis included socio-demographic sex work characteristics, sexual behavior, history of violence, alcohol and drug use, utilization of health services, and occurrence of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). RESULTS HIV prevalence was estimated as 5.3% (4.4%-6.2%). The odds ratio (OR) of an HIV-positive recruiter choosing an HIV-positive participant was 3.9 times higher than that of an HIV-negative recruiter (P < .001). Regarding socio-demographic and sex work characteristics, low educational level, street as the main work venue, low price per sexual encounter, and longer exposure time as a sex worker were found to be associated with HIV infection, even after controlling for the homophily effect. The OR of being HIV infected among FSW who had been exposed to sexual violence at least once in a lifetime (OR = 1.5, P = .028) and the use of illicit drugs at least once a week were highly significant as well, particularly for frequent crack use (OR = 3.6, P < .001). Among the sexual behavior indicators, not using condoms in some circumstances were significantly associated with HIV infection (OR = 1.8, P = .016). Regarding the occurrence of other STI, the odds of being HIV infected was significantly higher among FSW with a reactive treponemal test for syphilis (OR = 4.6, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS The main factors associated with HIV infection identified in our study characterize a specific type of street-based sex work in Brazil and provided valuable information for developing interventions. However, there is a further need of addressing social and contextual factors, including illicit drug use, violence, exploitation, as well as stigma and discrimination, which can influence sexual behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Landmann Szwarcwald
- Health Information Laboratory, Institute of Communication and Scientific and Technological Information in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro
| | - Giseli Nogueira Damacena
- Health Information Laboratory, Institute of Communication and Scientific and Technological Information in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro
| | - Paulo Roberto Borges de Souza-Júnior
- Health Information Laboratory, Institute of Communication and Scientific and Technological Information in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro
| | | | - Wanessa da Silva de Almeida
- Health Information Laboratory, Institute of Communication and Scientific and Technological Information in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro
| | - Arthur Pate de Souza Ferreira
- Health Information Laboratory, Institute of Communication and Scientific and Technological Information in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro
| | | | - Inês Dourado
- Collective Health Institute, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
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Benoit C, Jansson SM, Smith M, Flagg J. Prostitution Stigma and Its Effect on the Working Conditions, Personal Lives, and Health of Sex Workers. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2018; 55:457-471. [PMID: 29148837 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2017.1393652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Researchers have shown that stigma is a fundamental determinant of behavior, well-being, and health for many marginalized groups, but sex workers are notably absent from their analyses. This article aims to fill the empirical research gap on sex workers by reviewing the mounting evidence of stigmatization attached to sex workers' occupation, often referred to as "prostitution" or "whore" stigma. We give special attention to its negative effect on the working conditions, personal lives, and health of sex workers. The article first draws attention to the problem of terminology related to the subject area and makes the case for consideration of prostitution stigmatization as a fundamental cause of social inequality. We then examined the sources of prostitution stigma at macro, meso, and micro levels. The third section focuses on tactics sex workers employ to manage, reframe, or resist occupational stigma. We conclude with a call for more comparative studies of stigma related to sex work to contribute to the general stigma literature, as well as social policy and law reform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Benoit
- a Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , University of Victoria
| | - S Mikael Jansson
- a Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , University of Victoria
| | - Michaela Smith
- a Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , University of Victoria
| | - Jackson Flagg
- a Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , University of Victoria
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Mayanja Y, Kamacooko O, Bagiire D, Namale G, Kaleebu P, Seeley J. 'Test and Treat' Among Women at High Risk for HIV-infection in Kampala, Uganda: Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation and Associated Factors. AIDS Behav 2018; 22:1053-1061. [PMID: 29127534 PMCID: PMC5847220 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-017-1973-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Data on implementation of 'Test and Treat' among key populations in sub-Saharan Africa are still limited. We examined factors associated with prompt antiretroviral therapy/ART (within 1 month of HIV-positive diagnosis or 1 week if pregnant) among 343 women at high risk for HIV infection in Kampala-Uganda, of whom 28% initiated prompt ART. Most (95%) reported paid sex within 3 months prior to enrolment. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine baseline characteristics associated with prompt ART. Sex work as main job, younger age and being widowed/separated were associated with lower odds of prompt ART; being enrolled after 12 months of implementing the intervention was associated with higher odds of prompt ART. Younger women, widowed/separated and those reporting sex work as their main job need targeted interventions to start ART promptly after testing. Staff supervision and mentoring may need strengthening during the first year of implementing 'test and treat' interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunia Mayanja
- MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe, Uganda.
| | - Onesmus Kamacooko
- MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Daniel Bagiire
- MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Gertrude Namale
- MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Pontiano Kaleebu
- MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Janet Seeley
- MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe, Uganda
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Anne Crock E. HIV and AIDS: An overview of the current issues, treatment and prevention. Nurs Stand 2017; 32:51-63. [PMID: 29210536 DOI: 10.7748/ns.2017.e11045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The theme of World AIDS Day 2017 is 'let's end it'. After almost 40 years since the first occurrences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), it is possible to envision an end to the HIV epidemic, one of the most serious health and development challenges humanity has faced. This article provides an overview of the current approaches to the treatment, care and support of people living with HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). It also discusses the challenges associated with HIV and AIDS that remain, HIV prevention strategies, and the nurse's role in caring for people living with HIV. It outlines the Australian partnership approach to HIV, which provides a background for reflection on the response to HIV and AIDS in the UK and worldwide.
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Stigmatizing attitudes toward people living with HIV among general adult Thai population: Results from the 5th Thai National Health Examination Survey (NHES). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187231. [PMID: 29145519 PMCID: PMC5690635 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background HIV-related stigma and discrimination is a significant driver of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. UNAIDS encourages all nations to monitor progress toward elimination of this problem. This study measured the level of stigmatizing attitudes toward people living with HIV (PLHIV) among Thai adults in the general population using recommended global tools. Methods Data from the 5th National Health Examination Survey, conducted in 2014 were used. The survey utilized six questions recommended by the Global Stigma and Discrimination Indicator Working Group and was administered to participants aged 20–59 years old. All analyses were weighted to take into account of the probability of sampling the same-age Thai population. Factors related to a discriminatory attitude according to UNAIDS, defined as agreed to at least one of the two discriminatory issues, were evaluated using Chi square tested and multivariable logistic regression. Results Of the 10,522 respondents, the most prevalent stigmatizing attitude was anticipated stigma (76.9%), followed by perceived stigma (69.2%), fear of HIV infection (57.0%), and social judgment (38.2%). Fifty-eight point six percent had discriminatory attitudes according to the UNAIDS global indicator. Independent predictors were being female (AOR = 1.21: 95% CI 1.14–1.29), aged 20–39 (AOR = 1.19: 95% CI 1.09–1.30) or 50–59 (AOR = 1.18: 95%CI 1.12–1.26), being Muslim (AOR = 2.03: 95%CI 1.55–2.66), earning < 10,000 Baht/month (AOR = 0.93: 95%CI 0.88–0.99), and living in the Northeast (AOR = 1.67: 95%CI 1.39–2.00) or in Bangkok (AOR = 1.73: 95%CI 1.45–2.07). Conclusions More than half of the general adult Thai population had stigmatizing attitudes toward PLHIV. The study provided valuable baseline information which could be used as comparison for follow-up surveys with other countries. Interventions to improve Thai society’s knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS are urgently needed.
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Chanda MM, Ortblad KF, Mwale M, Chongo S, Kanchele C, Kamungoma N, Fullem A, Dunn C, Barresi LG, Harling G, Bärnighausen T, Oldenburg CE. HIV self-testing among female sex workers in Zambia: A cluster randomized controlled trial. PLoS Med 2017; 14:e1002442. [PMID: 29161260 PMCID: PMC5697803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV self-testing (HIVST) may play a role in addressing gaps in HIV testing coverage and as an entry point for HIV prevention services. We conducted a cluster randomized trial of 2 HIVST distribution mechanisms compared to the standard of care among female sex workers (FSWs) in Zambia. METHODS AND FINDINGS Trained peer educators in Kapiri Mposhi, Chirundu, and Livingstone, Zambia, each recruited 6 FSW participants. Peer educator-FSW groups were randomized to 1 of 3 arms: (1) delivery (direct distribution of an oral HIVST from the peer educator), (2) coupon (a coupon for collection of an oral HIVST from a health clinic/pharmacy), or (3) standard-of-care HIV testing. Participants in the 2 HIVST arms received 2 kits: 1 at baseline and 1 at 10 weeks. The primary outcome was any self-reported HIV testing in the past month at the 1- and 4-month visits, as HIVST can replace other types of HIV testing. Secondary outcomes included linkage to care, HIVST use in the HIVST arms, and adverse events. Participants completed questionnaires at 1 and 4 months following peer educator interventions. In all, 965 participants were enrolled between September 16 and October 12, 2016 (delivery, N = 316; coupon, N = 329; standard of care, N = 320); 20% had never tested for HIV. Overall HIV testing at 1 month was 94.9% in the delivery arm, 84.4% in the coupon arm, and 88.5% in the standard-of-care arm (delivery versus standard of care risk ratio [RR] = 1.07, 95% CI 0.99-1.15, P = 0.10; coupon versus standard of care RR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.86-1.05, P = 0.29; delivery versus coupon RR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.22, P = 0.005). Four-month rates were 84.1% for the delivery arm, 79.8% for the coupon arm, and 75.1% for the standard-of-care arm (delivery versus standard of care RR = 1.11, 95% CI 0.98-1.27, P = 0.11; coupon versus standard of care RR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.92-1.22, P = 0.42; delivery versus coupon RR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.94-1.18, P = 0.40). At 1 month, the majority of HIV tests were self-tests (88.4%). HIV self-test use was higher in the delivery arm compared to the coupon arm (RR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.23, P = 0.001) at 1 month, but there was no difference at 4 months. Among participants reporting a positive HIV test at 1 (N = 144) and 4 months (N = 235), linkage to care was non-significantly lower in the 2 HIVST arms compared to the standard-of-care arm. There were 4 instances of intimate partner violence related to study participation, 3 of which were related to HIV self-test use. Limitations include the self-reported nature of study outcomes and overall high uptake of HIV testing. CONCLUSIONS In this study among FSWs in Zambia, we found that HIVST was acceptable and accessible. However, HIVST may not substantially increase HIV cascade progression in contexts where overall testing and linkage are already high. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02827240.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katrina F. Ortblad
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrew Fullem
- John Snow, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Caitlin Dunn
- John Snow, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Leah G. Barresi
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Guy Harling
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Research Department of Infection and Population Health, Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Heidelberg Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Catherine E. Oldenburg
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Rivkin-Fish M. Legacies of 1917 in Contemporary Russian Public Health: Addiction, HIV, and Abortion. Am J Public Health 2017; 107:1731-1735. [PMID: 28933931 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2017.304064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
I examine the legacies of Soviet public health policy and the socialist health care system and trace how the Soviet past figures in contemporary Russian policymaking and debates about drug use, HIV, and abortion. Drug policies and mainstream views of HIV reflect continuities with key aspects of Soviet-era policies, although political leaders do not acknowledge these continuities in justifying their policies. In abortion policy, by contrast, which is highly debated in the public realm, advocates represent themselves as differing from Soviet-era policies to justify their positions. Yet abortion activists' views of the past differ tremendously, reminding us that the Soviet past is symbolically productive for arguments about Russia's present and future. I describe key aspects of the Soviet approach to health and compare how current drug policy (and the related management of HIV/AIDS) and abortion policies are discursively shaped in relation to the Soviet historical and cultural legacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Rivkin-Fish
- Michele Rivkin-Fish is with the Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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Lunze K, Lioznov D, Cheng DM, Nikitin RV, Coleman SM, Bridden C, Blokhina E, Krupitsky E, Samet JH. HIV Stigma and Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among People Living with HIV in Russia. AIDS Behav 2017; 21:2609-2617. [PMID: 28600603 PMCID: PMC5709173 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-017-1820-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Unhealthy alcohol use, highly prevalent in the Russian Federation (Russia), is associated with HIV risk behaviors among people living with HIV (PLWH). HIV stigma contributes to the HIV risk environment in Russia. To examine HIV stigma among Russian PLWH and to explore its association with unhealthy alcohol use, we conducted a longitudinal analysis of 700 PLWH in St. Petersburg, Russia. We assessed the association between alcohol dependence and HIV stigma measured at baseline and 12 months follow-up. Participants with alcohol dependence (n = 446) reported significantly higher HIV stigma scores over time than those without dependence (n = 254) (adjusted mean difference 0.60, 95% CI 0.03-1.17; p = 0.04). In secondary analyses, we examined recent risky alcohol use and did not detect an association with HIV stigma. Alcohol dependence is associated with high HIV stigma among Russian PLWH but the nature of the association is conjectural. HIV prevention efforts in Russia that address alcohol use disorders hold potential to mitigate HIV-related stigma and its possible adverse effects among PLWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karsten Lunze
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, 801 Massachusetts Ave., CT 2079, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Dmitry Lioznov
- First St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Debbie M Cheng
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ruslan V Nikitin
- Institute for Behavioral Health, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Sharon M Coleman
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carly Bridden
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elena Blokhina
- First St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Evgeny Krupitsky
- First St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Bekhterev Research Psychoneurological Institute, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Jeffrey H Samet
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, 801 Massachusetts Ave., CT 2079, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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50
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Sharma V, Suryawanshi D, Saggurti N, Bharat S. Correlates of health care utilization under targeted interventions: The case of female sex workers in Andhra Pradesh, India. Health Care Women Int 2017; 38:1188-1201. [PMID: 28799848 DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2017.1361423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Accessibility and frequency of use of health care services among female sex workers (FSWs) are constrained by various factors. In this analysis, we examined the correlates of frequency of using health care services under targeted interventions among FSWs. A sample of FSWs (N = 1,973) was obtained from a second round (2012) of Behavioral Tracking Survey, conducted in five districts of Andhra Pradesh, a high-HIV-prevalence state in southern India. We used negative binomial regression models to analyze frequency of utilization of health care services among FSWs. Based on our analysis, we suggest that various predisposing and enabling factors were found to be significantly associated with the visit to NGO clinics for treatment of any health problem, any sexually transmitted infection symptom, and the number of condoms received from the peer worker or condom depot. We suggest the need for further research with respect to various correlates of frequency of using health care among FSWs to develop effective intervention strategies in countries that have high HIV prevalence among FSWs and targeted interventions need more diligent implementation to reach the unreached.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Sharma
- a Saksham-The Global Fund, Tata Institute of Social Sciences , Mumbai , Maharashtra , India
| | - Dipak Suryawanshi
- b Cytel Statistical Software and Services Pvt. Ltd. , Pune , Maharashtra , India
| | | | - Shalini Bharat
- d Tata Institute of Social Sciences , Mumbai , Maharashtra , India
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