Knowing STI/HIV through surveillance; fighting STI/AIDS intervening female sex workers (FSWs) in Bangladesh

2^nd International Conference on HIV/AIDS, STDs, & STIs

October 27-29, 2014 Embassy Suites Las Vegas, USA

Mausumi Amin, Rahima Begum, Anisur Rahman, S K Jahangir Hossain and Salima Sultana

Accepted Abstracts: J AIDS Clin Res

Abstract :

The overall prevalence of HIV and active syphilis is 0.7% and 3% respectively reported during 9th sero-surveillance. As high active syphilis rates suggest practice of unsafe sex and a surrogate marker of unsafe sex is active syphilis, STI scenario is looked through this lens. STIs and HIV are linked through sharing same risk behavior, facilitates acquisition, transmission and virulence. Under Global Fund supported Save the Children initiative, essential service (includes STI management) have been provided for FSWs nationwide which encompass most sero-surveillance sampling sites. 8th round sero-surveillance was conducted during July-December 2007 where total 4797 FSWs in 15 cities were sampled. 9th sero-surveillance was conducted during December 2010-June 2011 where total 3568 FSWs were sampled from 13 areas. Same sampling methodology followed in both the rounds, sampling sites were under implementation coverage. In 8th sero-surveillance active syphilis rates at >5% was detected in five sites among street-FSWs of Chittagong (10.9), Rangpur (8.3) and Dhaka (7.3), hotel-FSWs in Sylhet (8.3) and casual-FSWs in Chandpur(7.4). In 9th sero-surveillance active syphilis rates at >5% was detected in three sites; street-FSWs of Hili (12.5%) and Chittagong (10.3%) and hotel-FSWs of Sylhet (9.3%). Active syphilis rate decreased in all 5 sites except one. Moreover, decreasing trend revealed in most sites in 9th round compared to 8th. High active syphilis rate flagged the need for ongoing program intensification and contributed in declining the STI trend. Evidence with good programmatic implication generated through sero-surveillance could be extrapolated and translated to tailor-made the ongoing program and design future one.

Biography :

Mausumi Amin has got working experience in the field of public health with special focus on STI, HIV, AIDS for more than 15 years. She was involved in strategic planning, designing, managing HIV prevention and care program among most at risk communities. Her major expertise lies in intervening diversified categories of female sex worker and their clients, transport workers of different setting. Currently she is working as Sr. Project Manager, HIV AIDS Program at Save the Children, and an international and leading NGO in Bangladesh. She has more than 10 international publications/presentations.