Objectives: To estimate the prevalence rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections STI among unregistered sex workers, and to describe their sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviours, and the reasons why they were not officially registered as sex workers, in order to design specific public health interventions.
Methods: A one-stage cluster-sample survey was conducted in Dakar in Unregistered sex workers were interviewed in randomly selected establishments official and clandestine bars, brothels and nightclubs , and blood, endocervical and vaginal samples were collected for laboratory diagnosis.
Results: A total of women with a median age of 29 years were recruited. One-seventh of them were under the legal age for prostitution in Senegal 21 years. The median length of prostitution was 24 months and Three-quarters of the women were found to have markers for at least one infection. The prevalence rates were as follows: HIV-1, 6. The main reported reason for non-registration was ignorance of the legal system and its procedures One-third of the women reported that their clients used condoms inconsistently or never.
Conclusion: This survey suggests that a multidimensional public health response is needed in Senegal, comprising legal information, downwards revision of the legal age for prostitution, and specific medical follow-up based on education, condom promotion and management of STI for non-registered sex workers.
Abstract Objectives: To estimate the prevalence rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections STI among unregistered sex workers, and to describe their sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviours, and the reasons why they were not officially registered as sex workers, in order to design specific public health interventions. Publication types Research Support, Non-U.
