AEGiS-13IAC: Sexual behavior, knowledge of HIV transmission and HIV seroprevalence among women sexual workers in Moundou

AEGiS-13IAC: Sexual behavior, knowledge of HIV transmission and HIV seroprevalence among women sexual workers in Moundou - Chad.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

Sexual behavior, knowledge of HIV transmission and HIV seroprevalence among women sexual workers in Moundou - Chad.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:62 (abstract no.. LBPeD7113)

Richard V, Mortier E, Djabbar H, Montanan D
Public Health Ministry, Ndjamena, Chad. Fax: +235 51 70 79, E-mail: projet.sante@intnet.td.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the demographic characteristics, HIV related risk behaviors, HIV knowledges and HIV seroprevalence of women who sell sex in Chad. Design: cross sectional study with subsample serologic component.

METHOD: A total of 416 women (15-55 years old) were recruited. These subjects were asked to fill out a anonymous standardized questionnaire with detailed information on demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, knowledges of HIV transmission. proportions of qualitatives variables were compared using X_test. Means of continuous outcomes were compared using T.test. Result: Of the total group, the mean age was 26.1 years (EC:7.2), 24.8% accepted subsample serologic, the means age for sexual beginning was 16.4 years. 18.1% admitted excision, 8.4% tattoo, 10.8% scarification, 24.7% travel in other country during the last 5 years, 5.3% blood tranfusion, 87.3% medical injection, 39.1% hospitalisation during the last 5 years.61.4% of the serologic group were seropositive. In univariate analysis, serologic and no serologic groups were different for many items. In multivariate analysis, knowledge of HIV transmission (OR=6.82: 95%CI:4.06-11.4) and age for sexual beginning (OR=0.72;95%CI:0.640.81) were factors of difference. The rnean age for sexual beginning was 15.9 years (EC:6.3)for serologic group and 18.2 years (EC:8.5) in no-serologic group.

CONCLUSION: In women sexual workers population, HIV transmission was very important. HIV knowledges were insufficient and ineffective on sexual behaviors. This study suggests that intensive continued education aimed at STD/HIV education and condom promotion are crucial in this vulnerable population.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Seroprevalence, Sex Behavior, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Condoms, Risk-Taking, Knowledge, Cross-Sectional Studies, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Chad, Human, Female, transmission, manpower, AIDS
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