Risk perception of sexually transmitted infections and HIV in Nigerian commercial sex workers in Barcelona: a qualitative study

Sexual health beliefs and prevention of sexually transmitted infections among cisgender women sex workers in Colombia

INTRODUCTION

The stigma and social discrimination against cisgender women sex workers lead many of them to live in conditions characterized by social inequality, marginalization, persecution, and limited opportunities for sexual health literacy. Consequently, they are often compelled to establish a framework of preventive beliefs with little scientific validity, which they use to identify, mitigate, or avoid sexual health risks arising from their interactions with clients. This study investigates the sexual health beliefs that influence self-care practices aimed at preventing sexually transmitted infections among cisgender women sex workers in Colombia.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative study framed in Hermeneutic Phenomenology. In-depth interviews and discussion groups were conducted with 34 cisgender women sex workers over 18 years of age in the center of the cities of Bogotá and Barranquilla in Colombia.

RESULTS

Seven themes emerged from the reflective and inductive thematic analysis of the narratives: (1) popular habits for the prevention of contagion, (2) ocular assessment of genitals, (3) condom lubrication, (4) suspicion of a hidden infection in the client, (5) saliva and oral contact as a source of contagion, (6) avoidance of semen contact, (7) and trust in God as protection.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings reflect the need for health and social professionals to promote participatory and inclusive cooperation with sex workers to update the framework of preventive beliefs that help them guide sexual health self-care with autonomy and self-efficacy, strengthening favorable beliefs and negotiating unfavorable ones. It is also essential to have a sex worker-informed sexual health policy that guides the promotion of sexual health that is sensitive to the needs and consistent with the risks of sex work and ensures friendly and non-oppressive preventive care environments for sex workers.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for Irregular Migrant Women: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Data

Migratory movements are a political, social, and public health issue on a global scale. Access to sexual and reproductive health services for irregular migrant women (IMW) is a public health issue. The aim of this study is to identify qualitative evidence of IMW's experiences of sexual and reproductive health care in emergency and primary care settings. The methods employed involve conducting a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. Synthesis includes assembling and categorising findings based on similarity in meaning. The search was conducted between January 2010 and June 2022 using PubMed, WOS, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and SCIELO databases. Out of the initial pool of 142 articles identified, only 9 fulfilled the predetermined criteria and were subsequently included in the review. Four main themes were established: (1) the need to focus emergency care on sexual and reproductive health; (2) unsatisfactory clinical experiences; (3) forced reproduction; and (4) alternating between formal and informal healthcare services. The attitudes of IMW towards sexual and reproductive health are influenced by culture, educational level, fear, barriers, and the attitude of healthcare providers. Healthcare institutions need to be aware of the IMW's experiences to understand the specific difficulties they face. IMW calls for socially and culturally sensitive health care, cultural mediators, improved communication, and safe environments that ensure confidentiality.

Screening of Schistosomiasis, Strongyloidiasis and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Nigerian Female Sex Workers Living in Rome

BACKGROUND

Female Sex Workers (FSWs) are at high risk for acquisition and transmission of sexually transmission infections (STIs). Although several studies investigated the diffusion of STIs in this population, none of them investigated the occurrence of helminth infections in FSW coming from endemic regions. This study aims to assess the prevalence of STIs and helminth infections in a cohort of FSWs.

METHOD

authors conducted a prevalent, observational, and descriptive study on 97 Nigerian FSWs aged 17 to 52 years from January to December 2020.

RESULTS

a total of 97 FSWs were recruited. Of these, only 82 had completed screening for hepatitis B, C, syphilis, and HIV, while all 97 were screened for schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis. The prevalence of STIs among FSWs in Rome was lower than in other European countries. The overall prevalence of HIV and HBsAg were 1.2%, (1/82) and 2.4% (2/82), respectively, while no case of hepatitis C and syphilis was found. Regarding parasitological screening, the overall prevalence of schistosoma species was 4.1% (4/97) while 5.15% (5/97) were positive for strongyloidiasis.

CONCLUSIONS

our study shows a low prevalence of STIs in Nigerian FSWs except for Hepatitis B and a higher prevalence of schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis. The permanent monitoring of STI and parasitic infections in sex workers coming from Africa is strongly warranted, especially for hepatitis B, schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis, to allow a timely diagnosis and treatment, and to plan preventive strategies.

Oral health and health care in female sex workers: concomitant quantitative and qualitative approaches

Sex workers, including female ones, have a higher risk of developing cancer and oral diseases due to the overlapping of risk factors. To characterize oral health status and healthcare practices and behaviors in female sex workers. Both quantitative and qualitative concomitant approaches were used. A closed-ended questionnaire, clinical examination, and semi-structured interview were administered, from July 2017 to August 2018, to 21 intentionally selected participants, in the city of Itajaí, southern Brazil. Although the participants reported having good oral health and healthcare habits, some oral diseases and harmful habits were observed. Poor oral hygiene and habits such as smoking, alcohol, and illicit drug use were found. Most of the participants had undergone gynecological follow-up in the last 12 months. Qualitative analysis gave rise to six categories: Social aspects of working as a sex worker, Work routine, Sexual practices and behaviors and protection from sexually transmitted infections, Practices and behaviors (including unprotected sun exposure, smoking, and alcohol use at work), Use of illicit drugs at work, and General and oral health care and perceptions about their oral health. Oral health status of the participants was variable, and most of them smoked cigarettes, drank alcohol, and consumed illicit drugs at work. Preventive condom use was reported. Most of them underwent recent serological tests for sexual diseases and gynecological follow-up, incentivized by the community health workers that facilitate access to public services.

Seroprevalence and Associated Factors of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Treponema pallidum, Hepatitis B Virus, and Hepatitis C Virus among Female Sex Workers in Dessie City, Northeast Ethiopia

Introduction

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are prevalent in Ethiopia and elsewhere among different population groups particularly among female sex workers (FSWs). Because of their work and their behavior, FSWs are at high risk to acquire STIs. The aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence and associated factors of HIV, HBV, HCV, and T. pallidum among FSWs in Dessie City, Northeast Ethiopia.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Dessie City, Amhara Region, Northeastern Ethiopia, from November 2017 to April 2018. A total of 360 FSWs whose age is greater than or equal to 18 years and who are willing to participate were recruited by simple random sampling technique. Interview-based questionnaire was administered, and 5 ml of venous blood from each participant was drawn under aseptic conditions. The rapid test was performed to obtain the result of the four STIs (HIV, T. pallidum, HBV, and HCV). The collected data were entered and analyzed by SPSS version 20.0. From the bivariable analysis, variables having P value < 0.2 were retained into multivariable analysis. From the multivariable analysis, variables with P value < 0.05 were affirmed as statistically associated factors. Adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were used as indicators of the strength of association.

Results

Majority of study participants were urban dwellers, 10 (2.8%) respondents were married, 61 (16.9%) have more than two children, and more than half of them were at the age range between 18 and 27 years. Any infection with STIs was 84 (23.3%), whereas 27 (7.5%), 47 (13.1%), 2 (0.6%), and 45 (12.5%) study participants were positive for laboratory test of HIV, HBV, HCV, and T. pallidum, respectively. Marital status, sharing of sharp materials, breakage of condom, number of customers per week, genital discharge, and pain had significant association with any STI.

Conclusions

In comparison with different research works in Ethiopia and abroad, the prevalence of any STI, HIV, HBV, and T. pallidum was found to be relatively high. Preventive approach and appropriate treatment of STIs should be developed. Concerned body should work together to alleviate the problem by counseling and recruiting them on other productive job sectors in the country.