HIV prevalence and behavioral studies in female sex workers in Togo: a decline in the prevalence between 2005 and 2011

HIV prevalence and behavioral studies in female sex workers in Togo: a decline in the prevalence between 2005 and 2011

 

Palokinam Pitché^1,2, Komi Gbetoglo³, Bayaki Saka², Séfako Akakpo², Dadja Essoya Landoh^1,&, Stéphane d’Alméida¹, Abiba Kere Banla¹, Dométo Sodji⁴, Kodzo Deku¹

 

¹Ministry of Health, Togo, ²Department of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), CHU Sylvanus Olympio, University of Lomé, Togo ³Demographic Research Unit, University of Lomé, Togo, ⁴NGOs FAMME, Lomé, Togo

 

 

^&Corresponding author
Dr Dadja Essoya Landoh, Ministère de la Santé; Division de l’Epidémiologie; BP: 1396 Lomé, Togo

 

 

 

 

By the end of 2011, UNAIDS estimated that the number of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) worldwide was 34 million, of which 69% live within sub-Saharan Africa [1]. An estimated 2.5 million new infections occurred in 2011, representing a decrease of 20% compared to 2001 [1]. Over a period of ten years, this decline is notable in Sub-Saharan Africa, where there are a significant number of countries that have seen a reduction by more than 25% [1].

 

Despite this, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 71% of all new infections in 2011 in the world. Female sex workers (FSWs) are one of the most important groups propelling the epidemic in most countries in Africa [1, 2]. Indeed, even when prevalence rates are generally quite low in a country, they can be very high in this group. HIV prevalence among sex workers is 13.5 times higher than among other women [2].

 

In Togo, the second generation surveillance conducted by the National AIDS and STI Program (NAP) estimated HIV prevalence in FSWs in the city of Lomé to be 54.7% in 2003; 11 times the prevalence estimated for the general population [3]. To address the problem, a concerted effort was carried out by various actors in the field of prevention of HIV infection between 2003 and 2005 to. In 2005, there was a shift in HIV prevalence among FSWs, declining to 45.4% in Lomé and to 29.5% nationally [3].

 

Taking into account the importance of FSWs in the dynamics of the epidemic in Togo, specific prevention programs targeting this population have been implemented. Five years after the last survey, a new study was necessary in order to measure changes in the prevalence of HIV among these FSWs and to adjust our strategy for the coming years.

 

 

Study population and sampling

 

This study targeted female sex workers (FSWs). Male prostitution is identified as very limited in Togo. FSW was defined as any female who exchanges sexual favors for a fee, occurring in brothels (brothel-based FSWs), hotspots (street-based and bar-based FSWs) or covert FSWs (private sex workers or client contacts sex worker by phone or via hotel staff).

 

In the strategy of support, the Togolese National AIDS/STDs Control Programme (PNSL-IST) distinguishes two groups of FSWs: street-based and/or covert FSWs and brothel-based FSWs who work almost exclusively in brothels.

 

Togo is a West African country, which had 6 million inhabitants in 2010. A national map of Sex workers was developed in 2009 determining the number of FSW per region and identifying sites of prostitution [4]. This study enumerated 8,000 FSWs, including 490 brothel-based FSWs, 1548 street-based FSWs and 5962 covert FSWs.

 

These results were used as a sampling frame for the subgroups of FSWs in each prefecture of the country and in the health districts of Lomé. A sample size of 1300 FSWs was calculated. Based on this, it was decided to interview all FSWs operating in brothels due to the convenience of accessing this population group as compared to other categories of FSWs. Sampling was, however, also performed among bar-based and street-based FSWs in proportion to the weight of each category.

 

Data collection

 

The study was carried out using the established protocol (the second-generation survey generic protocol developed by WHO and UNAIDS) and validated by the national reference group for monitoring and evaluation and research of the Togo National AIDS and sexually transmitted infections control Council (CNLS-IST).

 

The survey team was trained on both behavioral and serological aspects of the protocol. After training, the data collection tools where pretested in two non-participating areas in order to improve on their efficiency and accuracy. Data collection for the study took place from December 17 to 27, 2011 throughout the national territory.

 

The data collection on the behavioral component used an individual questionnaire with closed questions. The respondents were then subjected to a blood test to measure the prevalence of HIV (testing from venous blood following the tests prescribed by the national algorithm).

 

Data processing and analysis

 

Completed questionnaires were checked for errors before being computerized. The collected data were entered by trained officers to record information using the software CSPro4.0. The results biological tests were also entered in the database. Data collected were cleaned and analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive analyses were performed using Chi-square test at a significance level of 5%.

 

Ethical considerations

 

The entire study protocol (including questionnaires and consent forms; Ref No: 0176/2011/MS/CAB/DGS/DPLET/CBRS) were approved by the board committee of the Bioethics Committee of the Ministry of Health. We obtained consent from study subjects that participated in the study. For each of the FSWs surveyed, the objectives, benefits to participate in the survey and progress of the investigation were clearly stated as well as their right to interrupt the interview without justification. An informed consent form signed after the verbal explanation was made by the investigating officer in the language understood by the FSW.

 

The survey was "anonymous" and confidential. The respondents' names were not recorded to insure their confidentiality; these were replaced by numbers. Sample collection was conducted by laboratory technicians and medical personnel from district and regional health facilities under the supervision of pathologists from the National Institute of Hygiene (INH).

 

 

Socio-demographic characteristics of FSWs

 

In total, 1106 FSWs, were surveyed; the response rate was 85%. Of these, 73.4% were covert and street based. The average age was 27.6 years (range: 14 years and 68 years). Most (73.5%) were 18 and 34 years and only 5.6% of them were younger than 18 years. The majority of FSWs was not in a permanent relationship (66.9%) and had a primary and secondary education level (65.2%). Approximately half of the FSWs (41%) resided in Lomé, the capital of the country. FSWs operated mainly in bars (51%) and in brothels (26%).

 

Sexual behavior and HIV testing

 

Approximately 17% of FSWs had their first sexual intercourse before the age of 15 years. Before the age of 18 years this proportion increased to 63%. Also, 56.6% of FSWs had less than 7 clients a week. Sexual activity was earlier in younger generations than in older generations. Thus, 59.7% of FSWs under the age of 18 years, whereas 7% of FSW aged 40 and over had their first sexual intercourse before the age of 15 years. In addition, 71.2% of FSWs under the age of 25 years had their first sexual intercourse before the age of 18 years against 44.4% of those aged 40 and above.

 

For all FSWs, the average number of clients seen per week was 37 (range 1 to 52). A statistically significant difference between the average number of clients seen per week existed between brothel-based FSWs (40 clients) and combined covert and street-based FSWs (36 clients) (p=0.0002).

 

According to the FSWs, 95% said they have had sex using a condom at least once in their lifetime, 8.8% said they had used a condom during their last sexual intercourse. Only 11.6% used condoms during their last sexual encounter lower than that of FSWs who have used a condom during their lifetime (p <0.001). Moreover, 79% of FSWs used a condom during the last week of work. The main reason for condom use mentioned by FSWs was to prevent HIV/AIDS (96%), STI (78%) and unwanted pregnancies (54%). About one third (34%) of FSWs who had used lubricants to facilitate sex. Finally, 688/1106 FSWs (62.2%) reported having been tested for HIV; of them 93% declared to have collected their results.

 

HIV sero-prevalence

 

Of the 1106 FSWs, 145 (13.1%) were identified as being HIV positive by serology test. The HIV sero-prevalence was 21.8% among brothel-based FSWs against 10% in covert and street based FSWs (p<0.001). Approximately one in four FSWs (24.4%) from the age of 35 to 39 years were HIV positive, followed by 22% of FSWs from 30 to 34 years. HIV sero-prevalence was 19.4% in the region of Lomé and decreased from south to north of the country (Table 1). Four types of behavior were associated with HIV sero-prevalence among FSWs including: having over 7 clients per week (p <0.001), no-use of condoms during each sex (p = 0.003), non-use of condoms during last sex (p = 0.006) and open sex trade by brothel-based FSWs (p =0.001) (Table 2).

 

 

This study has documented HIV sero-prevalence and behaviors of FSWs in 2011. It is a follow up of the study conducted in the same group in 2005. In six years, we have noticed a decline in HIV prevalence from 29.5% to 13.1%, a decrease of 56%. This drop was observed in all health regions of the country (Table 3). The survey also confirmed that FSWs in Togo are concentrated in the capital, Lomé (41% of surveyed FSWs). In 2005, 52% of the 5397 FSWs identified in Togo lived in Lomé, where only 15% of the Togolese population lived [3]. These results suggest the positive effect of the national strategy established by the National Council to fight against HIV/AIDS which has targeted this population by offering services tailored to FSWs since 2005.

 

With regards to the use of condoms, 95% of FSWs reported that they have had sex with a condom at least once in their lifetime. This rate is close to the 97% of FSW who reported condom use at least once in their lifetime in Nigeria [5]. Only 11.6% of FSWs have used condoms during their last sexual encounter; this indicates that 88.4% of FSWs were not protected during their latest intercourse. In our study, 8.8% of FSWs said they had used a condom during their last sexual intercourse. This proportion is substantially lower than that 85% of FSW who reported using a condom during their last sexual intercourse reported by UNAIDS from a survey of capital cities in 85 countries [1]. Likewise, a study in Rwanda showed that 74% of FSWs had used a condom during their last sexual intercourse [6]. In our study, 79% of FSWs used a condom during sexual intercourse with clients in the last week of work. In Uganda, 94% of FSWs reported having used a condom during the previous month of work, and among them, 45% had consistently used it [7]. These results show that the use of condoms by FSWs must be improved if we want to significantly reduce the prevalence of HIV with lasting effect, and attain the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

 

In our study, 62.2% of FSWs reported having been tested for HIV, and among them, 93% said they collected their results, implying they knew their HIV status. In Guinea, all FSWs reported having carried out their HIV test, and 92% among them collected their results [8]. Continued awareness campaigns for FSWs by peer educators should be encouraged to explain the importance of screening test and encourage them to know their HIV status.

 

We measured a HIV prevalence of 13.1% amongst FSWs. This prevalence is four times higher than that of the general population (3.2%), Previous estimates of HIV prevalence among FSWs in sub-Saharan Africa countries ranges from 24 to 46.5% [6, 9-14]. In a review by Baral et al. [2] the average HIV prevalence among FSWs in 50 countries was estimated at 12%. In 2005, the HIV prevalence among FSWs in Togo was 29.5% [3]; suggesting a decrease of 56% between 2005 and 2011 when compared to the estimate in our study. These results are encouraging. Indeed, Togo is one of the 25 countries in the world where incidence of new HIV infections dropped by over 50% between 2001 and 2011 [1]. Although a remarkable reduction has been observed across Togo, HIV prevalence remains high in the country's capital when compared to other geographic health regions.

 

This study had limitations related to the methodology used. FSWs are difficult to locate due to stigma as well as their illegal status in Togo. We therefore used convenient sampling methods to select the study participants. We did not have information on non-respondents and refuters; but our study had a response rate of 85%. Also, a previous map of sex workers was used to identify brothels and hotspots. Finally, data collection was based on face-to-face administrated questionnaires which method is subject to information bias arising from concealment of information.

 

 

Sexual behaviors identified in this survey (i.e. number of clients per week, consistency in use of condoms and openly trading sex) reflect a cumulative risk of exposure to HIV infection. These factors were taken into account by the CNLS-IST under the national strategy against AIDS 2012-2015. Indeed, it is by addressing the determinants of the epidemic, the specific needs of this population, increasing the supply of services of prevention and providing care tailored to each target population, that we can hope to sustainably impact on the HIV epidemic throughout Africa.

 

 

The authors declare that they have no competing interests

 

 

PP was responsible for the conception of the study and its overall scientific management, for analysis and interpretation, and the preparation of the final manuscript. KG and DS participated to the study design, undertook the field study, conducted the data collection, analysis and interpretation, and wrote the manuscript. BS, and DEL were involved in the scientific management, data analysis and interpretation, and guided the manuscript writing and its finalization. SA and SD were involved in the field study, in data collection, analysis and interpretation and wrote the manuscript. AKB and KD participated in data collection, data analysis and interpretation of results, and reviewed the manuscript. All the authors have read and approved the final manuscript to be submitted for publication.

 

 

The authors wish to thank the Ministry of Health of Togo for permitting this study to be conducted. We would like to thank Brett Archer and Peter Waswa for their assistance. Many thank to all the respondents for accepting to participate to this study.

 

Funding: This work was supported by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, through the Ministry of Health of Togo as part of the implementation of the HIV control project, Series 8.

 

 

Table 1: HIV sero-prevalence among female sex workers by socio-demographic characteristics, Togo, 2011

Table 2: HIV sero-prevalence among female sex workers by sexual behavior, Togo, 2011

Table 3: Changes in hiv sero-prevalence among female sex workers between 2005 and 2011, Togo

 

 

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