HIV Testing and Counseling Among Female Sex Workers: A Systematic Literature Review

Anna Tokar*, Jacqueline E.W. Broerse, James Blanchard, Maria Roura

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

HIV testing uptake continues to be low among Female Sex Workers (FSWs). We synthesizes evidence on barriers and facilitators to HIV testing among FSW as well as frequencies of testing, willingness to test, and return rates to collect results. We systematically searched the MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS databases for articles published in English between January 2000 and November 2017. Out of 5036 references screened, we retained 36 papers. The two barriers to HIV testing most commonly reported were financial and time costs—including low income, transportation costs, time constraints, and formal/informal payments—as well as the stigma and discrimination ascribed to HIV positive people and sex workers. Social support facilitated testing with consistently higher uptake amongst married FSWs and women who were encouraged to test by peers and managers. The consistent finding that social support facilitated HIV testing calls for its inclusion into current HIV testing strategies addressed at FSW.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-23
Number of pages23
JournalAIDS and Behavior
Volume22
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Feb 2018

Funding

Funding AT was financed by the TransGlobal Health Program as a part of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Programme (ERASMUS MUNDUS 2009-2013, EMJD, Action 1B, Agreement No. 2013-0039). MR received funds from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) as part of a “Ramon y Cajal” fellowship (RYC-2011-08428), and the Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Regional Government of Catalonia (AGAUR Grant 2014SGR26). AT was financed by the TransGlobal Health Program as a part of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Programme. MR received funds from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) as part of a ?Ramon y Cajal? fellowship (RYC-2011-08428), and the Ag?ncia de Gesti? d?Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca , Regional Government of Catalonia (AGAUR Grant 2014SGR26). I would like to thank Jacob Osborne, MSc Research Master Global Health, for his help with editing this paper. I would like to thank Alyona Mazhnaya, Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, USA, for helping with updating search. ISGlobal is a member of the CERCA Programme, Generalitat de Catalunya. Author AT declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author JEWB declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author JB declares that he has no conflict of interest Author MR declares that she has no conflict of interest. Acknowledgements AT was financed by the TransGlobal Health Program as a part of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Programme. MR received funds from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) as part of a “Ramon y Cajal” fellowship (RYC-2011-08428), and the Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Regional Government of Catalonia (AGAUR Grant 2014SGR26). I would like to thank Jacob Osborne, MSc Research Master Global Health, for his help with editing this paper. I would like to thank Alyona Mazhnaya, Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, USA, for helping with updating search. ISGlobal is a member of the CERCA Programme, Generalitat de Catalunya.

FundersFunder number
Ag?ncia de Gesti?
Alyona Mazhnaya
Department of Health, Behavior & Society
Regional Government of Catalonia
Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Generalitat de Catalunya
Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca2014SGR26
Ministerio de Economía y CompetitividadRYC-2011-08428

    Keywords

    • Female sex workers (FSWs)
    • HIV diagnosis
    • HIV testing
    • Systematic review

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