AIDSImpact.com:: - Santa Fe, USA 2011

Abstract #276 - Reasons for resistance to HIV testing among female commercial sex workers (FSW) in a city in northeastern Brazil
Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Ligia Kerr - Federal University of Ceara
Additional Authors: Mrs. Telma Martins, Prof. Rosa Mota, Prof. Valéria Freire,
Aim: FSWs are one of the populations most vulnerable to HIV infection. HIV testing within a comprehensive care and treatment system is an important procedure for early detection, promising increased survival, improved quality of life, and potential community benefits through reduced viral load and promotion of preventive measures to break the chain of transmission.The objective was identify reasons not to test among FSW in a metropolitan area of northeastern Brazil.
Method / Issue: Descriptive survy of 402 women over 18 years of age who reported having received money in exchange for sex in the four months preceding the survey. Respondents were resident in Fortaleza, Ceará, recruited with Respondent Driving Sampling (RDS) during the period November to December 2010. Respondents were administered a sociobehavioral questionnaire and provided an opportunity to test for HIV and syphilis. Analysis utilized RDSAT 6.0.
Results / Comments: FSW had a mean age of 33.09 (sd = 10.98) years, live or have lived in stable relationships (24.9%), had on average 2.21 children (SD = 0.45) and were initiated into prostitution at a mean age of 14.89 (sd = 2.44) years. Almost all of the sample (93.5%) reported thinking about taking a test for HIV. A third of the sample (33.3%) never tested, although 80.8% of these testing naïve respondents stated that they intended to take the provided test. Of those previously tested, 61.9% did so in the year preceding the survey, and 72% had tested more than once. The main reasons listed for not testing, among the128 testing naïve were: fear of discrimination in the case of a positive result (21.6%), not at risk of infection (13.4%); ignorance of the locations of testing sites (16.4%); belief in the trustworthiness of a partner, and fear of breach of confidentiality by health professionals (10.4% for both).
Discussion: Considering the high vulnerability of FSWs HIV testing rates are low. Public policies must address the main obstacles found here, promotion of the benefits of testing, testing sites, promotion of regular testing, and improving confidentiality and access to testing in public services.
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