Prevalence of selected STIs/HIV among transport workers and sex workers in selected areas and evaluation of educational condom promotion intervention among transport workers.

Abstract

The study comprises of three phases namely a baseline surrey, an intervention and a post intervention survey. To obtain baseline information on selected STIs, a cross sectional descriptive study for sero-prevalence of selected STIs was carried out among long distance lorry drivers in Trincomalee and Dambulla AGA divisions. For the total sample of 741 respondents from Dambulla and Trincomalee AGA divisions, the study revealed a seroprevalence of 2 percent syphilis, 16 percent herpes simplex-I, 3 percent herpes simplex-2 and 0.4percent HBsAg. There were no HIV infections detected among these population groups. The study revealed that the 86 percent of the sample, admitted extramarital/sexual exposures of almost all of the married and half of the unmarried long distance lorry drivers. Among the sex workers, the study determined that 23 percent of their clients were long distance lorry drivers. In this group condom use remained low with 49percent only during the last sexual exposure. The study concluded that there is a high prevalence of risky sexual behaviours among long distance lorry drivers. Behaviours such as multiple partners as FSW's and low level of condom use were the reasons for the high risk of spread of STI among them and also spread throughout the country as this is a mobile population. A sexual behavioural surveillance, particularly among long distance lorry drivers and female sex workers should be established in order to monitor the trends in sexual risk behaviours