AEGiS-15IAC: Sentinel seroepidemiological and behavioural surveillance among female commercial sex workers in Saint Petersburg (Russian Federation) in 2003.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Sentinel seroepidemiological and behavioural surveillance among female commercial sex workers in Saint Petersburg (Russian Federation) in 2003.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. ThOrC1371)

Smolskaya T, Rusakova M, Tsekhanovich A, Yakovleva A, Tretyakova V, Piskarev I
Saint-Petersburg Pasteur Institute, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation

BACKGROUND: Our cross-sectional study was focused on HIV prevalence and risks related to HIV infection and spread among female street commercial sex workers (CSWs) in five districts of Saint Petersburg.

METHODS: The CSWs were contacted by the mobile unit of the prevention programme providing help to street CSWs. The study was spread over a 4-week period. 111 interviews were taken and 110 blood samples were obtained from the same persons.

RESULTS: The average age of the interviewees was 25; 89.2% were native residents of Saint Petersburg. 68.5% were unmarried, 38.7% had children. 97.2% of the CSWs reported drug injecting experience (heroin in 96.1% of the cases). The average age at the first drug use was 18.7. The CSWs had been injecting drugs for the average of 6 years. 81.2% of the respondents use drugs on a daily basis. The first heterosexual contact occurred at the age of 15.4; the first commercial contact took place at 22.5 age. The number of commercial contacts during the week preceding the interview averaged 16, with 2-3 clients daily. 96.3% of the interviewees reported condom use during commercial contacts, 40.6% used condoms with their permanent sexual partners. Within the year preceding the interview 57.4% had been tested for HIV and, consequently, were aware of their serological status. Laboratory testing within the framework of the present project showed that 48.1% of the respondents were HIV-positive. 28.4% of the CSWs had syphil is, 15.6% had suffered syphilis in the past. 63.2% had received treatment for STI during the year preceding the interview, with 69.6% of the women seeking medical help from state health care providers.

CONCLUSIONS: The interview showed that the target group of street CSWs was almost totally composed of injecting drug users who earned money for drugs by selling their sexual services. This fact was related to the high level of HIV spread in this group. The sentinel surveillance method proved highly informative.

Keywords: AEGIS, Condoms, HIV Infections, Prevalence, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, HIV, HIV Seroprevalence, Sexual Partners, Cross-Sectional Studies, Syphilis, Substance-Related Disorders, Female, Humans, Child, epidemiology

040711
ThOrC1371