Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Archives of Public Health
Published in: Archives of Public Health 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research

A study on HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B and C virus infections among female sex workers in the Republic of Congo

Authors: Fabien Roch Niama, Nadia Claricelle Loukabou Bongolo, Pembe Issamou Mayengue, Franck Fortuné Mboussou, Edith Sophie Kombo Bayonne, Florian Michael Kouckodila Nzingoula, Louis Regis Dossou-Yovo, Igor Louzolo, Mandingha Kosso Etoka-Beka, Achile Lanzy, Irène Yameogo, Davy Louvouezo, Simon Charles Kobawila, Marie-Francke Puruhence, Henri Joseph Parra

Published in: Archives of Public Health | Issue 1/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Female Sex Workers (FSWs) are considered to be at high risk for transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and are defined as a priority of the national HIV/AIDS response in the Republic of Congo (RoC). However, no data are available regarding STIs in this group. This study aimed to determine the prevalences of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C among FSWs in five cities in the country.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2nd 2011 to May 15th 2012. Participants were recruited in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, Dolisie, Nkayi and Pokola using a respondent-driven sampling method.

Results

A total of 805 FSWs were recruited with an average age of 28.31 ± 9.15 years. The overall prevalences of HIV, syphilis, HBV and HCV were 7.50%, 2.20%, 4.20% and 0.70%, respectively. The age groups 35–39 (20.51% [0%–36.93%], p = 0.0057) and greater than 40 years (16.67% [0%–34.93%], P = 0.016) were positively associated with behaviors at high risk of HIV infection. For syphilis, the most infected age group was the one greater than 40 years, at 6.25% ([1.06% –72.37%] p = 0.04). Pointe-Noire was the most infected city for syphilis and HBV, with 5.15% (p = 0.0061) and 4.22% (p˂0.001), respectively. No risk factors were associated with HCV infection. FSWs practicing in mobile prostitution sites had a significantly higher infection rate (2.1% [0%–11.09%] p = 0.04).

Conclusion

This study shows that the prevalence of HIV and other STIs in FSWs is high. Therefore, a combination of individual and structural interventions could reduce the risk of an STI “reservoir” among this population.
Literature
1.
2.
Minichiello V, Rahman S, Hussain R. Epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections in global indigenous populations: data availability and gaps. Int J STD AIDS. 2013;24(10):759–68.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Angounda BM, Bokilo Dzia A, Niama FR, Ahombo G, Boumba LMA, Moukassa D, Ennaji MM, Ibara J-R. Seroprevalence of markers and Risk factors of Hepatitis B Virus among blood donors in Brazzaville, Congo. Int J Innov and Sc Res. 2015;20(1):171–9.
4.
5.
Dupin N1. Sexually transmitted infections in France in 2009. Rev Prat. 2010;60(4):520–5.
6.
Han L, Zhou C, Li Z, Poon AN, Rou K, Fuller S, Li Y, Shen L, Kang D, Huang L, Liao M, Fu X, Shepard C, Wu Z, Bulterys M. Differences in risk behaviours and HIV/STI prevalence between low-fee and medium-fee female sex workers in three provinces in China. Sex Transm Infect. 2016;92(4):309–15.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Kinoshita-Moleka R, Smith JS, Atibu J, Tshefu A, Hemingway-Foday J, Hobbs M, Bartz J, Koch MA, Rimoin AW, Ryder RW. Low prevalence of HIV and other selected sexually transmitted infections in 2004 in pregnant women from Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Epidemiol Infect. 2008;136(9):1290–6. Epub 2007 Nov 21.CrossRefPubMed
8.
9.
Wejnert C. An empirical test of Respondent Driven Sampling: Point estimates, variance, degree measures and out-of-equilibrium data. Cyprian Wejnert Sociol Methodol. Sociol Methodol. 2009;39(1):73–116.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
10.
11.
ONUSIDA. Le VIH et le commerce du sexe – note d’orientation de l’ONUSIDA. Genève: 2009.
12.
Nouaman MN, Meless DG, Coffie PA, Arrivé E, Tchounga BK, Ekouévi DK, Anoma C, Eholié SP, Dabis F, Jaquet A, with the IeDEA West Africa collaboration. Oral health and HIV infection among female sex workers in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. BMC Oral Health. 2015;15:154.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
13.
Kane CT, Diawara S, Ndiaye HD, Diallo PA, Wade AS, Diallo AG, Belec L, Mboup S. Concentrated and linked epidemics of both HSV-2 and HIV-1/HIV-2 infections in Senegal: public health impacts of the spread of HIV. Int J STD AIDS. 2009;20(11):793–6. doi:10.​1258/​ijsa.​2008.​008414.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Braunstein SL, Ingabire CM, Geubbels E, Vyankandondera J, Umulisa M-M, Gahiro E, Uwineza M, Tuijn CJ, Nash D, van de Wijgert JHHM. High Burden of Prevalent and Recently Acquired HIV among Female Sex Workers and Female HIV Voluntary Testing Center Clients in Kigali, Rwanda. PLoS One. 2011;6(9):e24321.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
15.
Papworth E, Ceesay N, An L, Thiam-Niangoin M, Ky-Zerbo O, Holland C, Dramé FM, Grosso A, Diouf D, Baral SD. Epidemiology of HIV among female sex workers, their clients, men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs in West and Central Africa. J Int AIDS Soc. 2013;16(4Suppl3):18751. doi:10.​7448/​IAS.​16.​4.​c18751. Published online 2013 December 2.PubMedPubMedCentral
16.
Shah NS, Shiraishi RW, Subhachaturas W, et al. Bridging Populations—Sexual Risk Behaviors and HIV Prevalence in Clients and Partners of Female Sex Workers, Bangkok, Thailand. 2007. J Urban Health. 2011;8(3):533–44.CrossRef
17.
Praseeda SD, Anuradha D, Jayanthi SS. Study of Hbv& HcvInfection in Female Sex Workers & Their Co-Infection With Hiv. J Clin and Diag Res. 2013;7(2):234–7.
18.
Traore IT, Hema NM, Sanon A, Some F, et al. HIV risk and behaviour among part-time versus professional FSW: baseline report of an interventional cohort in Burkina Faso. Sex Transm Infect. 2016. doi:10.​1136/​sextrans-2015-052038 [Epub ahead of print].PubMed
19.
Zermiani M, Mengoli C, Rimondo C, Galvan U, Cruciani M, Serpelloni G. Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Hepatitis C in a Survey of Female Sex Workers in the North-East of Italy. Open AIDS J. 2012;6:60–4.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
20.
Tang Z, Zhang C, Li X, Liu Y, Su S, Zhou Y, Shen Z. HIV risk among female sex workers with different patterns of drug use behaviors in Southwest China: a cross-sectional study. AIDS Care. 2015;27(3):293–300.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Forbi JC, Onyemauwa N, Gyar SD, Oyeleye AO, Entonu P, Agwale SM. High prevalence of hepatitis B virus among female sex workers in Nigeria. Rev Inst Med Trop S Paulo. 2008;50(4):219–21.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Thuy NTT, Nhung VT, Van Thuc N, et al. HIV infection and risk factors among female sex workers in southern Vietnam. AIDS. 1998;12:425–32.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Dunkle KL, Beksinska ME, Rees VH, et al. Risk factors for HIV infection among sex workers in Johannesburg, South Africa. Int J STD AIDS. 2005;16:256–61.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Weir SS, Roddy RE, Zekeng L, et al. Association between condom use and HIV infection: a randomized study of self-reported condom use measures. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1999;53:417–22.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
25.
Lange WR, Cone EJ, Snyder FR. The association of hepatitis B virus in parental drug abusers, 1971 to 1972 and 1986 to 1987. Arch Intern Med. 1990;150:365–8.
26.
Elhadi M, Elbadawi A, Abdelrahman S, Mohammed I, Bozicevic I, Hassan EA, Elmukhtar M, Ahmed S, Abdelraheem MS, Mubarak N, Elsanousi S, Setayesh H. Integrated bio-behavioural HIV surveillance surveys among female sex workers in Sudan, 2011–2012. Sex Transm Infect. 2013;89 Suppl 3:iii17–22.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
27.
Hwang SH, Oh HB, Kim HS, Lee EY. Evaluation of HBs Ag, HCV and HIV Ag-Ab Assays using Bio-Rad Elite Microplate Analyzer. Korean J Lab Med. 2006;26(6):436–41.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Sano T, Kondo M, Yoshimura Y, Tachikawa N, Sagara H, Itoda I, Yamanaka K, Sudo K, Kato S, Imai M. Evaluation of a new vesion of the human immunodeficiency virus antigen and antibody combination assay with improved sensitivity in HIV-1 p24 antigen detection. Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 2013;87(4):415–23.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
A study on HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B and C virus infections among female sex workers in the Republic of Congo
Authors
Fabien Roch Niama
Nadia Claricelle Loukabou Bongolo
Pembe Issamou Mayengue
Franck Fortuné Mboussou
Edith Sophie Kombo Bayonne
Florian Michael Kouckodila Nzingoula
Louis Regis Dossou-Yovo
Igor Louzolo
Mandingha Kosso Etoka-Beka
Achile Lanzy
Irène Yameogo
Davy Louvouezo
Simon Charles Kobawila
Marie-Francke Puruhence
Henri Joseph Parra
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Archives of Public Health / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2049-3258
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-017-0189-5

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

Archives of Public Health 1/2017 Go to the issue

Research

Barrier, weakness and utilization of pre-pregnancy clinic services

Research

Promoting workplace stair climbing: sometimes, not interfering is the best

Research

Treatment outcomes of tuberculosis patients in nigist Eleni Mohammed general hospital, hosanna, southern nations, nationalities and peoples region, Ethiopia: a five year (June 2009 to August 2014) retrospective study

Research

Sentinel surveillance of influenza-like illness in the Central African Republic, 2010–2015

Research

Social determinants and risk behaviors associated with prevalent Hepatitis C and HIV/HCV co-infection among male injection drug users in Nepal

Research

Analysis of nutritional adequacy of local foods for meeting dietary requirements of children aged 6-23 months in rural central Tanzania