HIV Risk Perception and Behavior among Sex Workers in Three Major Urban Centers of Mozambique

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094838
• Publication Date: 2014-04-15T16:45:38Z
• Authors: Judite Langa; César Sousa; Mohsin Sidat; Karen Kroeger; Eleanor McLellan-...; Hrishikesh Belani; Shama Patel; Daniel Shodell; Michael Shodell; Irene Benech; Richard Needle
• Keywords: Adult; Counseling; Male; Risk; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Adolescent; Science; Health Personnel; Sexual Behavior; HIV Infections; Drug Users; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 11. Sustainability; Humans; Cities; Mozambique; Sex Workers; Q; R; Administrative Personnel; 3. Good health; Medicine; Research Article

HIV risk perceptions and behaviors of 236 commercial sex workers from three major Mozambican urban centers were studied using the International Rapid Assessment, Response and Evaluation (I-RARE) methodology. All were offered HIV testing and, in Maputo, syphilis testing was offered as well. Sixty-three of the 236 opted for HIV testing, with 30 (48%) testing positive for HIV. In Maputo, all 30 receiving HIV tests also had syphilis testing, with 6 (20%) found to be positive. Results include interview excerpts and qualitative results using I-RARE methodology and AnSWR-assisted analyses of the interviews and focus group sessions.