LATEST HIV behavioural and
biological surveillance survey among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in Dar es Salaam
(2010-2011) has revealed that the virus prevalence is high among the group.
According to the survey results that were released in Dar es Salaam yesterday,
HIV prevalence among FSWs was 31.4 percent, much higher than that of women in
the general population in the city.
The survey which was conducted
by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through its National AIDS Control
Programme (NACP) unit and received funding from CDC/PEPFAR, also established
that, apart from the risk this posed to FSWs themselves, they (FSWs) have
multiple types of paying and non paying sexual partners.
“The partners might provide a
bridge for HIV transmission between FSWs, other high risk groups and the
general population,” remarked Dr Method Kazaura, a biostatistician from
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science (MUHAS) and one of MARPs
Technical Working Group members.
The survey results also
indicated that FFSWs reported multiple partners of different types, differing
condom use by partner type, high perception of HIV risk, and moderate rates of
HIV testing. “When asked about their last day of work, FSWs reported a median
of three (3 clients) and 77.6 percent reported two or more clients,” he said
Almost three-quarters of FSWs
reported having steady non-paying partners.
On sexual and physical abuse by male clients
and other sex partners, the acts were common. For instance, he said, 51.7
percent of FSWs reported having experienced physical violence in the past 12
months
“We found a substantial level of
reported abuse and abandonment, highlighting the social vulnerability of this
stigmatized population in Dar and its potential impact on individual
risk-taking behaviour,” said Dr Kazaura, who was accompanied by Ms Neema Makyao
from NACP during the presentation.
According to the survey’s
recommendations, these results support the need to develop a minimum package for
prevention, care and treatment of HIV infection that is tailored specifically
for this population to complement available services.
“This package should build on
existing services, be conveniently located and integrate important messages on
how to reduce sexual and drug use risk, particularly among individuals that
engage in multiple risk behaviours,” reads a part of the recommendations.
On her part, the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epidemiology Survelliance Team Lead, Dr.
Mary Kibona said that despite the united efforts to fight HIV by the USG and the
government of Tanzania (GoT), there was still much work to be done and people in need who have not yet been
reached.
She
said, in 2003, the U.S. Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was instated,
and the governments of the United States and the United Republic of Tanzania
joined forces to fight the HIV epidemic that was affecting this country.
“Since
then, through a united effort, we have made significant strides, and many Tanzanian
lives have been saved. We can and should be proud of these
accomplishments- direct results of a dedicated partnership between two nations
sharing a common goal,” she said.
She
added: but we know there is still much work to be done and people in need who
have not yet been reached. We have now begun to use our experiences and
shift our approaches to be more effective and have bigger impacts. We
have learned many valuable lessons along the way and are more focused than ever
to end this epidemic.
As our
HIV/AIDS programs have evolved, and PEPFAR transitions from being an “emergency
response” to sustainable country-owned projects, we have realized some programs
are going to require a more strategic, focused approach. We now know that
to truly move in the right direction towards an AIDS-free Tanzania, we must not
ignore key populations that are at a higher risk of HIV transmission, noted the
CDC representative during the event.
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