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Chlamydia Prevalence and Associated Behaviours Among Female Sex Workers in Vanuatu: Results from an Integrated Bio-behavioural Survey, 2011

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Abstract

There is insufficient data on sexually transmitted infections (STI) and related behaviours among key populations, including female sex workers (FSW), in the Pacific region. Using respondent driven sampling, we conducted an integrated bio-behavioural survey with FSW in Vanuatu (aged ≥18 years) to investigate risk behaviours associations with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT). Weighted population estimates and correlates of CT infection were calculated. Among 149 FSW, prevalence of CT was 36 % (95 % CI 26–48 %). Few FSW reported consistent condom use with recent transactional sex partners (TSP) (8 %; 95 % CI 2–13 %). CT infection was positively associated with increasing number of TSP (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.1; 95 % CI 1.0–1.2) and group sex (AOR 2.9; 95 % CI 1.1–8.2). CT was negatively associated with increasing age of first sex (AOR 0.6; 95 % CI 0.5–0.9) and previous STI treatment (AOR 0.1; 95 % CI 0.0–0.4). A comprehensive public health strategy for prevention and treatment of STI among FSW, incorporating community empowerment strategies, FSW-targeted health services and periodic presumptive treatment, is urgently needed in Vanuatu.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the Vanuatu Ministry of Health for their ongoing support and for laboratory testing; NRL (Melbourne, Australia) for laboratory testing; Wan Smolbag for coordinating data collection and entry and management of the field researchers; WHO Western Pacific Regional Office and the Pacific UNAIDS Coordinator for their technical support in project implementation. Caroline van Gemert received a Travel Grant from the Ian Potter Foundation to receive training in Respondent Driven Sampling from Lisa G Johnston of Tulane University and University of California, San Francisco in USA. We thank the Pacific Island HIV and STI Response Fund Grant, a collaborative funding mechanism by the Australia and New Zealand governments and managed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community for funding this project. Laboratory testing of specimens at the Port Vila Central Hospital was provided by the Global Fund Round 7 Grant through the Vanuatu Ministry of Health. Finally, we thank all participants of the study for their valuable input.

Conflict of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, GPO Box 2284, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia

    Caroline van Gemert, Mark Stoove, Isabel Bergeri & Alyce Vella

  2. Centre for International Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Tamara Kwarteng

  3. Wan Smolbag Theatre, Port Vila, Vanuatu

    Siula Bulu & Jayline Malverus

  4. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia, France

    Ian Wanyeki

  5. Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Steve Badman

  6. Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu

    Len Tarivonda

  7. School of International Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Lisa Grazina Johnston

  8. Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, USA

    Lisa Grazina Johnston

Authors
  1. Caroline van Gemert
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  2. Mark Stoove
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  3. Tamara Kwarteng
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  4. Siula Bulu
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  5. Isabel Bergeri
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  6. Ian Wanyeki
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  7. Steve Badman
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  8. Jayline Malverus
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  9. Alyce Vella
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  10. Len Tarivonda
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  11. Lisa Grazina Johnston
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Correspondence to Caroline van Gemert.

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van Gemert, C., Stoove, M., Kwarteng, T. et al. Chlamydia Prevalence and Associated Behaviours Among Female Sex Workers in Vanuatu: Results from an Integrated Bio-behavioural Survey, 2011. AIDS Behav 18, 2040–2049 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0791-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0791-2

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