Producción CyT

AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses - Lower HIV prevalence among female sex workers in a city with a clinical day care center focused on sex workers, Argentina.

Congreso

Autoría:

PANDO, MARIA DE LOS ANGELES ; Dos Ramos Farias M ; Martinez S ; Coloccini RS ; Reynaga E ; Avila MM

Fecha:

2010

Editorial y Lugar de Edición:

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers

ISSN:

0889-2229

Resumen *

Background: As regards health care, female sex workers (FSW) are considered a vulnerable group. Since 2005, AMMAR (a sex workers’ association) implemented a day care center for FSW in La Plata, a city 60km outside Buenos Aires. The clinic offers different services including gynecology, obstetrics, dentistry, infectious diseases and HIV-testing. The aim of this study was to compare HIV-prevalence in FSW from La Plata and other cities in Argentina. Methods: An HIV-prevalence study was performed among FSW from Argentina (2006-2009). FSWs older than 18 years-old, who accepted to participate and signed an informed consent, were interviewed and tested for HIV. Results: A total of 1,255 FSW were included in the study, 382 from La Plata and 873 from other cities (Cordoba, Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Santiago del Estero, Rosario, Parana, Viedma and Moreno). HIV prevalence was significantly lower in FSW from La Plata (0.3%, 95% CI 0.01-1.4) as compared with FSW from other cities (2.7%, 95% CI 1.6-3.9)(p<0.05). When comparing risk factors, consistent use of condom with clients was found significantly higher in FSW from La Plata than other cities (96% vs 85%, p<0.001). Consistent use of condoms with non-commercial partners (formal or casual) was very low finding no differences among cities (17.6%). Conclusion: Though HIV prevalence in general population in the different cities is similar, the results of this study clearly show that FSW from La Plata City have less risk for HIV infection as demonstrated with their lower prevalence and higher use of condoms with their clients. HIV prevalence from this study was low, but not significant, regarding the HIV prevalence before the creation of the clinic (0.3% vs 1%). These results suggest that the implementation of clinical care centers specialized in at-risk groups might be beneficial for more focused prevention strategies that can cause an impact on the control of the epidemic. Información suministrada por el agente en SIGEVA

Palabras Clave

clinical day care centerfemale sex workersHIV