Heterosexual anal sex among female sex workers in high HIV prevalence states of India: need for comprehensive intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Role of vaginal sex in heterosexual transmission of HIV has been investigated but that of heterosexual anal sex (HAS) is not fully understood. This paper examines practice of HAS among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) and its correlates in India where the HIV epidemic is being primarily driven by core groups like FSWs. METHODS: Data for this paper are drawn from Round I survey of 9667 FSWs in the Integrated Biological and Behavioral Assessment (IBBA) from 23 districts of 4 high HIV prevalent states of India. Bivariate and multivariate analysis identified factors associated with HAS. RESULTS: Ever having anal sex was reported by 11.9% FSWs (95% CI: 11.3%-12.6%). Typology (AOR 2.20, 95% CI 1.64-2.95) and literacy (AOR 1.28, 95% CI 1.10-1.49) were positively associated with practice of HAS. Longer duration in sex trade (AOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.44-1.99), entertaining larger number of clients the previous week (AOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.47-2.15), alcohol consumption (AOR 1.21, 95% CI 1.03-1.42) and inability to negotiate condom use (AOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.28-1.83) were also correlated with HAS. Self-risk perception for HIV (AOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.25-1.71) did not impede HAS. Although symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the last 12 months were associated with anal sex (AOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.13-1.72) there was no significant association between laboratory confirmed HIV and other STIs with HAS. CONCLUSION: Practice of HAS by FSWs might significantly contribute to HIV transmission in India. This study also shows that despite self-risk perception for HIV, even literate FSWs with longer duration in sex work report HAS. General messages on condom use may not influence safe HAS. FSWs need to be targeted with specific messages on HIV transmission during anal sex. Women controlled prevention methods, such as rectal microbicides and vaginal microbicides are needed

Laboratory confirmed prevalence of STI.

<p>*of those who were tested.</p><p>HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus. RPR: Rapid Plasma Reagin for syphilis.</p><p>TPHA: Treponema pallidum HemoAgglutination confirmatory test for syphilis.</p><p>CT: Chlamydia trachomatis. NG: Neiserria gonorrhoea. HSV-2: Human Simplex Virus-2.</p

Bivariate and multivariate analysis for heterosexual anal sex: (logistic regression model using global weights).

<p>*OR-Odds Ratio; AOR-Adjusted Odds Ratio (Adjusted for literacy and years at sex work).</p>#<p>Denominators will change as per the distribution of missing data/non-responses for anal sex in categories. Percentages are calculated taking the appropriate denominator.</p

Clinical profile of HIV infected patients attending a HIV referral clinic in Pune, India

Background & objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has infected several million individuals in India. Various interventions have been implemented for early detection and prevention of transmission of HIV infection. This has progressively changed the clinical profile of HIV infected individuals and this study documents the clinical presentation of individuals positive for HIV in 2010, in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Methods: This cross-sectional study included subjects who had come to the HIV referral clinic for HIV testing from January to December 2010. c0 hildren as well as individuals with indeterminate HIV result were excluded from the study, and data for 1546 subjects were finally analysed. Results: The HIV positivity rate among all referred cases for the year 2010 was 35 per cent (male 55% and females 45%). The median age (Q1, Q3) was 31 (25.75, 39) yr. The median CD4 cell count for all HIV infected individuals (whose CD4 count was available n= 345) was 241 cells/µl and for asymptomatic HIV infected individuals was 319 cells/µl. There were 673 (43.5%) symptomatic and 873 (56.5%) asymptomatic participants. Fever, breathlessness, cough with expectoration, weight loss, loss of appetite, generalized weakness, pallor and lymphadenopathy (axillary and cervical) were found to be associated ( p0 < 0.001) with HIV positivity. On multivariate analysis, history of h0 erpes zoster [AOR 11.314 (6.111-20.949)] and TB [AOR 11.214 (6.111-20.949)] was associated with HIV positivity. Interpretation & conclusions: Signs and symptoms associated with HIV positivity observed in this study can be used by health care providers to detect HIV infection early. Moreover, similar to HIV testing in patients with tuberculosis, strategies can be developed for considering Herpes zoster as a predictor of HIV infection

FSWs Heterosexual Anal Sex & condom used at last anal sex.

<p>FSWs Heterosexual Anal Sex & condom used at last anal sex.</p