Who is Exposed to HIV Prevention Interventions? An Assessment of Associated Factors Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa.

This study examined the prevalence of HIV risk factors and their association with intervention exposure among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) living in six South African districts in which a combination HIV-prevention intervention was being implemented. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted from 2017 to 2018 among a representative sample of AGYW aged 15-24 years living in the six districts. We used an electronic questionnaire for self-reported demographic and behavioural questions and blood samples were taken to confirm HIV status in the laboratory. Chi-Squared tests and multivariate binary logistic regression were used to examine associations between demographic characteristics, HIV acquisition and transmission risk factors and the likelihood of participating in any of the key components of the combination HIV-prevention intervention. Among the 4399 participants, 45.3% reported inconsistent condom use with casual partner and 46.6% with a main partner. Almost half of participants (47.8%) had participated in one or more components of the HIV-prevention intervention, and in a multivariate logistic regression, those reporting a higher number of HIV risk behaviours were no more (or less) likely to participate. Participants who were not in high school were significantly less likely to have participated in the intervention compared to those still in high school, when adjusting for age and HIV risk factors. The barriers to access and uptake of combination HIV prevention interventions among AGYW who are out of the education system need to be explored and combination HIV prevention interventions and implementation strategies need to be tailored to reach this population.

Prevalence of HIV Infection and Risk Factors Among Female Sex Workers in a Southeast Province of Vietnam.

Female sex workers (FSWs) are at heightened risk of HIV infection. This research aims to determine the prevalence of HIV and relevant risk factors and related behavior among FSWs in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, a southeast province of Vietnam. 420 FSWs were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and biological samples tested for HIV. 2.6 % were found to be HIV positive. HIV infection was significantly higher in FSWs who had low income (≤AUD 200 per month), have had anal sex, have had sex with injecting drug users, and had a low level of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge. Improved employment opportunities and income are important to reduce the pressure for young women to engage in sex work for income purposes, but in public health terms, existing HIV treatment, prevention and intervention programs needs better targeting and improvements to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

Factores de riesgo sexual y parenteral en los encuestados durante la campaña contra hepatitis virales 2013, Rosario, Argentina / Sexual and parenteral risk factors in subjects surveyed during a campaign against viral hepatitis (2013), Rosario, Argentina

La enfermedad hepática viral constituye un problema y un desafío para los médicos y sus pacientes. En agosto de 2013 en la ciudad de Rosario se efectuó la Campaña de Detección y Vacunación de Hepatitis Virales. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo caracterizar los principales factores de riesgo sexual (FRS) y parenteral (FRP) de los voluntarios asistentes a dicha campaña. Se llevó a cabo un estudio de corte transversal utilizando como instrumento un cuestionario validado. Se encontró que el 37,1%(IC 95%: 32,8-41,6%) de los encuestados refería al menos un FRS, siendo el más prevalente la presencia de relaciones sexuales inseguras con el 68,9% (61,6-75,6%). El 35,7% (31,4-40,1%) presentó al menos un FRP, destacándose aquí la utilización de piercings y tatuajes con el 74,6% (67,4-80,9%) y el 48% (40,3-55,7%) respectivamente. En los individuos mayores de 60 años,los hombres hicieron referencia a mayor exposición a FRS que las mujeres (37,2% vs 16,2%; p= 0,019); mientras que para los menores de 40 años las mujeres presentaron mayor exposición a FRP (64,5% vs 45,0%; p= 0,016). La prevalencia de factores de riesgo aumentó al disminuir la edad de los respondedores. Los jóvenes entre 18 y 30 años mostraron además, asociación entre los FRS y FRP (p= 0,01). Los factores de riesgo estudiados resultan diferenciarse según grupos etarios y género. Es necesario contemplar una educación dirigida a distintos grupos poblacionales, focalizando en las debilidades propias de cada uno

Viral liver disease is a problem and a challenge for physicians and their patients. A campaign for the detection and vaccination againstviral hepatitis was performed in August 2013 in the city of Rosario, Argentina. This work aims to characterize the main sexual (SRF)and parenteral (PRF) risk factors among those volunteers attending the campaign. A cross-sectional study was conducted using avalidated questionnaire. It was found that 37.1% (95% CI: 32.8-41.6%) of the respondents mentioned at least one SRF; the mostprevalent factor was the presence of unsafe sex with 68.9% (61.6-75.6%). On the other hand, 35.7% (31.4-40.1%) referred atleast one PRF, of which the most frequent were the use of piercings and tattoos with 74.6% (67.4-80.9%) and 48% (40,3-55.7%)respectively. Men reported higher exposure to SRF than women (37.2% vs 16.2%, p= 0.019) among individuals older than 60 years;while for those under 40 years, women were more likely to show PRF (64.5% vs 45.0%, p= 0.016). The prevalence of risk factorswas increased while decreasing age of respondents. Young people between 18 and 30 also showed association between SRF and PRF(p = 0,01). Risk factors studied varied according to age groups and genders. It is necessary to provide education targeted to differentpopulation groups, focusing on their particular characteristics and weaknesses of each of them

Factores de riesgo sexual y parenteral en los encuestados durante la campaña contra hepatitis virales 2013, Rosario, Argentina / Sexual and parenteral risk factors in subjects surveyed during a campaign against viral hepatitis (2013), Rosario, Argentina

La enfermedad hepática viral constituye un problema y un desafío para los médicos y sus pacientes. En agosto de 2013 en la ciudad de Rosario se efectuó la Campaña de Detección y Vacunación de Hepatitis Virales. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo caracterizar los principales factores de riesgo sexual (FRS) y parenteral (FRP) de los voluntarios asistentes a dicha campaña. Se llevó a cabo un estudio de corte transversal utilizando como instrumento un cuestionario validado. Se encontró que el 37,1%(IC 95%: 32,8-41,6%) de los encuestados refería al menos un FRS, siendo el más prevalente la presencia de relaciones sexuales inseguras con el 68,9% (61,6-75,6%). El 35,7% (31,4-40,1%) presentó al menos un FRP, destacándose aquí la utilización de piercings y tatuajes con el 74,6% (67,4-80,9%) y el 48% (40,3-55,7%) respectivamente. En los individuos mayores de 60 años,los hombres hicieron referencia a mayor exposición a FRS que las mujeres (37,2% vs 16,2%; p= 0,019); mientras que para los menores de 40 años las mujeres presentaron mayor exposición a FRP (64,5% vs 45,0%; p= 0,016). La prevalencia de factores de riesgo aumentó al disminuir la edad de los respondedores. Los jóvenes entre 18 y 30 años mostraron además, asociación entre los FRS y FRP (p= 0,01). Los factores de riesgo estudiados resultan diferenciarse según grupos etarios y género. Es necesario contemplar una educación dirigida a distintos grupos poblacionales, focalizando en las debilidades propias de cada uno(AU)

Viral liver disease is a problem and a challenge for physicians and their patients. A campaign for the detection and vaccination againstviral hepatitis was performed in August 2013 in the city of Rosario, Argentina. This work aims to characterize the main sexual (SRF)and parenteral (PRF) risk factors among those volunteers attending the campaign. A cross-sectional study was conducted using avalidated questionnaire. It was found that 37.1% (95% CI: 32.8-41.6%) of the respondents mentioned at least one SRF; the mostprevalent factor was the presence of unsafe sex with 68.9% (61.6-75.6%). On the other hand, 35.7% (31.4-40.1%) referred atleast one PRF, of which the most frequent were the use of piercings and tattoos with 74.6% (67.4-80.9%) and 48% (40,3-55.7%)respectively. Men reported higher exposure to SRF than women (37.2% vs 16.2%, p= 0.019) among individuals older than 60 years;while for those under 40 years, women were more likely to show PRF (64.5% vs 45.0%, p= 0.016). The prevalence of risk factorswas increased while decreasing age of respondents. Young people between 18 and 30 also showed association between SRF and PRF(p = 0,01). Risk factors studied varied according to age groups and genders. It is necessary to provide education targeted to differentpopulation groups, focusing on their particular characteristics and weaknesses of each of them(AU)

Sexual risk factors associated with intimate partner violence against women in Rwanda: a couples-based analysis.

The goal of this study was to measure the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women and to examine the independent association of sexual risk factors of women and their husbands/partners with IPV. We used data from 2,169 couples from the 2005 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey. Face-to-face interviews were conducted, and multiple logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 560 (29.2%), 415 (22.2%), and 233 (12.4%) women reported any physical, psychological, or sexual IPV, respectively. History of genital ulcer in women was significantly associated with psychological IPV (AOR: 2.77; 95% CI: 1.67-4.59), whereas history of genital ulcer reported by husbands/partners was significantly associated with sexual IPV (AOR 2.80, 95% CI: 1.08-7.29). The number of lifetime sexual partners of husbands was positively associated with increasing odds of their wives being exposed to psychological IPV (p = 0.025) and physical IPV (p = .017). In a representative sample of couples, husbands/partners' sexual risk factors were associated with IPV reported by their wives. Genital ulcer appeared to be a risk marker for the presence of IPV victimization/perpetration.