336610
Most at-risk: Sex workers and non-sex workers who use alcohol and drugs living with or at-risk for HIV in South Africa
Methods: A clustered randomized experiment funded by NIDA (R01 DA032061) in Pretoria, South Africa targets disadvantaged women who use drugs or alcohol. The experimental group receives an evidenced-based woman-focused intervention to reduce sex risk, victimization, and alcohol and drug use and case management for linkages to HIV care, substance abuse treatment and other health needs.
Results: The study enrolled 641 women. At baseline, 54% tested positive for HIV, 20% of whom were newly diagnosed. 37% of women reported sex work (SW) in the previous 6 months; 66% were living with HIV compared to 47% (p<0.0001) of non-sex workers (NSW). Substantially more SW than NSW used cocaine (21% vs 11%, p=0.001) and marijuana (40% vs. 27%, p<0.0001), heavy alcohol use did not vary (47%). Physical abuse from current partners was more prevalent among SW (22%) than NSW (13%). Most SW (68%) and few NSW (18%) reported condom use at last sex. Among women who knew they had HIV at baseline, 61% had received HIV care and 17% reported ever taking ART.
Conclusion: HIV prevalence is high among women in Pretoria who also report poly-drug use. Sex workers report higher levels of AOD use and also have higher levels of HIV demonstrating a most-at-risk group needing a gender-focused intervention and health services.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practiceImplementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Compare the differences in alcohol and other drug use among sex workers and non sex workers along with how the woman-focused intervention addresses barriers to treatment for these most-at-risk women.
Explain the intersecting risk behaviors and contextual factors in South Africa where higher HIV prevalence is found among sex workers.
Keyword(s): Women and HIV/AIDS, Sex Workers
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the PI of this study and have worked in South Africa since 2001. I developed the proposal and intervention, and I have been responsible for the implementation. This abstract is based on my plans for my first baseline paper from this study. It has not been presented anywhere. I have a PhD and years of experience conducting research in the realm of HIV.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.