Factors associated with adherence to HIV testing guidelines among HIV-negative female sex workers in Kampala, Uganda. IJID Reg 2022 Sep;4:25-32
Date
09/13/2022Pubmed ID
36093368Pubmed Central ID
PMC9453214DOI
10.1016/j.ijregi.2022.05.008Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85150864880 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 1 CitationAbstract
BACKGROUND: Frequent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is recommended among female sex workers. This study examined the extent to which HIV-negative female sex workers (FSWs) in Kampala adhere to the HIV testing guidelines, and identified associated factors.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a simple random sampling method to select 12 sex work hotspots. Two hundred participants were allocated proportionally in each hotspot. Frequencies were used to describe categorical characteristics of FSWs, and a multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the factors associated with adherence to the HIV testing guidelines.
RESULTS: Eighty-eight percent of the 200 study participants reported their HIV testing status; of these, 56% had tested three or more times in the 12 months preceding the survey. Attaining a secondary education was associated with adherence to the HIV testing guidelines [odds ratio (OR) 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-3.44; P=0.047]. Sexually transmitted infection testing in the preceding 3 months (OR 2.13, 95% CI 0.95-4.74; P=0.065) and accessing HIV testing at a drop-in centre (OR 5.90, 95% CI 0.71-49.1; P=0.101) were associated with higher odds of adherence to the HIV testing guidelines.
CONCLUSION: Adherence to the HIV testing guidelines was suboptimal, indicating the need to scale up interventions to improve access to HIV testing, including rigorous behaviour change communication.
