[Female sex workers in Benin, 2002. Behavioural survey and HIV and other STI screening].

BACKGROUND: As part of an HIV prevention program aimed at female sex workers (FSWs) and their male clients in Benin, we conducted a survey combining laboratory testing and a behavioural questionnaire in 2002 to estimate the prevalence of HIV, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and to determine the social, demographic and behavioral factors associated with these infections. The study provided a follow-up of the epidemiological situation in Cotonou, Benin's largest city, where the intervention began in 1993 with the collection of baseline data; it also collected such data for three other cities in Benin, to which the intervention was being extended in 2002.

DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 723 self-identified FSWs aged at least 15 years: 474 recruited in Cotonou, 128 in Porto-Novo, 42 in Abomey-Bohicon and 79 in Parakou. The univariate analysis compared the categorical variables with the chi-square test and measured associations with crude prevalence odds ratios (POR). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the independent adjusted associations between HIV, NG and CT infections, and the social, demographic and behavioural variables.

RESULTS: Globally, the prevalence of HIV was 46%, NG 20.4% and CT 6.0%. All were lower in Cotonou (38.5%, 14%, and 4.8%, respectively) than in the other cities. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, HIV prevalence was significantly associated with gonorrhea (aPOR = 2.77; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.30-5.87), older age (P = 0.0126; trend test), Nigerian origin (aPOR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.24-0.89) and number of paying clients in the previous 7 days (> 10) (aPOR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.23-4.71). Infection with NG, CT or both (NG/CT) was significantly associated with HIV (aPOR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.24-3.95) and 100% condom use was protective against these infections (aPOR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.25-0.91).

CONCLUSION: In developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, interventions targeting FSWs are an essential priority for HIV prevention.