Open AccessGaps in HIV Testing and Treatment Among Female Sex Workers in Lae and Mt. Hagen, Papua New Guinea
Author(s) -
Avi Hakim,
Kelsey Coy,
Angelyn Amos,
Barne Willie,
Steven G Badman,
Rebecca Narokobi,
Josephine Gabuzzi,
Simon Pekon,
Martha Kupul,
Parker Hou,
Herick Aeno,
Ruthy Neo Boli,
Joshua Nembari,
Sophie Ase,
Damian Weikum,
Nick Dala,
Steven Callens,
John Kaldor,
Andrew Vallely,
Angela KellyHanku,
Kauntim mi tu Study Team
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
aids and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.994
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1573-3254
pISSN - 1090-7165
DOI - 10.1007/s10461-020-02997-w
Subject(s) - new guinea , respondent , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , health psychology , female sex , demography , gerontology , gynecology , public health , family medicine , nursing , sociology , political science , ethnology , law
We conducted biobehavioral surveys among female sex workers (FSW) in Lae and Mt. Hagen, Papua New Guinea (January-December 2017). Respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit FSW aged ≥ 12 years, who were assigned female sex at birth, who spoke English or Tok Pisin, and who sold or exchanged sex for money, goods, or services in the last 6 months. When adjusted for viral suppression, 48.9% of FSW Lae and 61.9% in Mt. Hagen were aware of their HIV positive status. Of these women, 95.3% in Lae and 98.9% in Mt. Hagen were on antiretroviral therapy, and of these, 83.5% in Lae and 87.0% in Mt. Hagen had suppressed viral load. Renewed efforts are needed to increase HIV testing among FSW and provide support to FSW on treatment in both cities to attain viral suppression.