Risk Factors and Syndromic Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections among Sex Workers in the Kadiolo Circle ()
1. Introduction
The couple sexually transmitted infection and infection with the human immunodeficiency virus remain a major public health problem in our countries. Sexually transmitted infections are a gateway for the human immunodeficiency virus by the presence of ulcerations and local inflammatory manifestations, thus increasing the risk of transmission [1] [2]. In the mid-1980s, sexually transmitted infections declined dramatically. Since 1998 there has been an increase in the number of cases of classic sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and since 2003, lymphogranulomatosis venereal in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, especially in the homosexual population [3] [4]. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately one million people contract a sexually transmitted infection, including HIV, per day [5]. An estimated 375 million people each year contract one of the following four sexually transmitted infections: trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis [6]. In Mali, according to the 2006 demographic health survey, the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections was estimated at 6% among women with a high prevalence of 10% in Bamako. Men were less affected (3%) than women (6%) [7]. The global prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection was estimated according to the 2014 organization of united nations/AIDS global report at 35 million people worldwide, including 24.1 million in sub-Saharan Africa, thus representing 70% of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus [8]. In Mali, this prevalence was 1.1% [7]. The Sikasso region is home to many gold panning areas in which workers outside their activities and far from their families constitute a group at risk of associating with sex workers. Their surveillance remains important for the protection of the surrounding population by stopping the transmission of sexually transmitted infections and the human immunodeficiency virus. We thought that it would be wise to assess the risk behaviors and the quality of syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections among sex workers in the Kadiolo circle.
2. Material and Method
This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in the Kadiolo circle from January 1 to December 31, 2014 during which we included 465 workers aged 15 years. Kadiolo (Sikasso region), is a circle in Mali bordering the Ivory Coast. Traditional gold mining is the main activity in the area with a mobile population. The volunteers were sex workers who came for consultation at the health center. After obtaining informed consent, they were included in the study.
Inclusion criteria: These were women aged over 15, sex workers and resident in the Kadiolo circle and were not included women under 15 and those who were not recognized as sex workers.
Judgement criteria:
All women aged 15 and over, sex workers and residents of Kadiolo.
The presence of a genital ulceration, vaginal discharge, or other evidence of a genital infection on physical examination.
The presence of an infectious syndrome such as a genital ulceration, vaginal discharge, or other sign of a genital infection on physical examination.
Human immunodeficiency virus serology was used to screen sex workers with HIV.
The Gonadotropic Chorionic Hormone test was used to check for pregnancy in female sex workers.
Sample size
Joséphine Aho [9] in 2011 carried out a study of 421 sex workers in Conakry, Republic of Guinea in three stages, and we extended our study over one year in order to increase our statistical power to cover seasonal mobility.
The data collector
The data was collected during a confidential interview and recorded in a questionnaire. This questionnaire was drawn up by the scientific officer and the principal investigator and included;
The statistical population studied was sex workers.
The variables studied were:
- Quantitative included the desired risk factors such as the age of sex workers, age of first sexual intercourse and commercialization and length of stay in brothels and also the number of clients per day.
- Qualitative included marital status, level of study, occupation, condom use. The clinical data collected were the reason for consultation, the result of the human immunodeficiency virus serology screening and those of pregnancy as well as the type of infectious syndrome.
The questionnaire was subjected to a stimulus test on the recruitment procedure and data analysis.
The questionnaire was subjected to a daily quality control before it was entered.
The Excel 2016 software was used for data entry and then analyzed by the SPSS 24 software. The static test used was the ki2 with a significance level of 5%.
Ethics: The informed consent of each of the participants and the preservation of medical confidentiality were the rule.
3. Results
We collected 465 female sex workers aged 15 to 49. The 20 - 29 age group was the most represented, 60.4% with an average of 26.6 years (Table 1). The majority of patients came from neighboring countries of Mali, in particular from the Ivory Coast 52%, Nigeria 26.2%, and Burkina Faso with 8.8%. Malians made up 9.7% of the workforce. Patients had completed higher education in 2.4% of cases and 46.7% were out of school. They displayed their profession in 92.5% and they were housed in brothels with a stay of 6 months in 53.3% of cases. Those who worked clandestinely (7.5%) had other daily activities and were mainly represented by saleswomen, 71.4%, and hairdressers, 14.3%. These sex workers were predominantly single, i.e. 70.8%, and approximately 72.9% lived alone and without a spouse.
The age of the first sexual intercourse was in the age group 15 - 19 years with 76.6% of cases with an average of 16.33 years (Table 2). The number of first commercial sex was between 15 - 19 years (26%), 20 - 24 years (45.8%) and over 30 years (9.7%) (Table 3). Usual condom use with regular sex partners was 22.1% of cases, and more than half of these regular sex partners engaged in unprotected sex. Condom use was almost compulsory at 89.7% with occasional clients or non-regular sexual partners (Table 4). The number of clients varied from day to day with an average of 5 clients and extremes of 0 to 11.
Clinically, the major reason for consultation was vaginal discharge 16.4% followed by abdominal pain and genital ulceration.
The human immunodeficiency virus test was not compulsory and only 86 workers or 18.5% accepted with a positive result of 11 people or 12.8% of cases. Sexually transmitted infections accounted for 33.2% or about 15 workers and largely dominated by vaginal discharge at 80% and abdominal pain at 20% (Table 5). The majority of these infections were diagnosed in workers with a high number of sexual partners, varying between 6 and 10 per day. Unintended pregnancies were 3.3% of cases. Syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections was etiologically consistent with the WHO management algorithm with 18.5% of cases.
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Table 1. Distribution of sex workers by age group.
The age group 20 - 24 was the majority with 39.1%.
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Table 2. Distribution of sex workers by age group at first intercourse.
The age of first sexual intercourse was 14.8% for those under 14.
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Table 3. Distribution of sex workers by age group of first commercial sex.
The age group 40 and over was 1.5% to have first commercial sex.
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Table 4. Systematic condom use by sexual partners.
Consistent condom use with non-regular sexual partners was 89.7%.
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Table 5. Distribution of sex workers according to the nature of the infectious syndrome.
The most common infectious syndrome encountered was abnormal vaginal discharge with 80%.
4. Discussion
This descriptive study made it possible to determine the frequency of risk factors for sexually transmitted infections among sex workers in Kadiolo. During this study, we encountered difficulties in recruiting sex workers; this difficulty was overcome by the use of networks in the field. The most represented age group was that of 20 - 29 years or 60.4% according to data from Aho J. in Guinea Conakry 61.3% [10]. This could be explained by the working age group, the existence of a strong demand for sexual service, the conditions of poverty experienced by women and finally the extraordinary economic interests. Thus, the perpetuation of prostitution is firstly due to the fact that there is a demand for it. Without clients, there is no prostitution [11]. The economic principle of supply and demand finds its application in this context. Indeed, without men in search of sexual pleasures, prostitution could not exist [11] [12]. Foreign nationality was in the majority 90.3% with an Ivorian predominance (52%). This large presence of sex workers of foreign origin is in agreement with the literature [12] [13]. The strong representativeness of foreigners could be explained by the fact that the sex trade is strongly condemned by the Malian religious and administrative authorities with a stigmatization of young girls from the locality for having expressed themselves in this activity. Foreigners are less complex because they practice away from their families and their usual social environment. The sex workers in our study were 46.7% out of school due to the low rate of schooling in our country. Singles were in the majority in our study at 70.8%. The sex trade being an unethical activity and strongly condemned by Malian society, the young woman needs all her freedom of action to carry out her activity; therefore any legal attachment would constitute an obstacle. However, the presence of a proportion of married sex workers could be due to the fact that most do not live regularly with their husbands and therefore work underground to avoid social confrontation and family rejection. The age of the first sexual intercourse varied between 15 and 19 years or 76.6% of our sample with an average of 16.33 years in agreement with the data of SIDIBE O, 62.3% [13], but lower than that suggested by WHO (≥21 years). This result could be justified by the fact that at this age of adolescence the young girl undergoes significant bodily and behavioral transformations and at the same time discovers sexuality. The cultural context of our country greatly influences sex education which remains a taboo subject in our families. The majority of sex workers, 45.8%, had their first commercial sex between the ages of 20 and 24 in response to poverty, the responsibilities of life and independence of personal care. Prostitution becomes an easy opportunity to face these needs, especially since it can be carried out in parallel with other activities in accordance with the literature [11] [12] [13] [14]. Some sex workers (27.1%) lived with a spouse who could be either a husband, a boyfriend, a partner, a regular client. This indicates the clandestine nature of the fact that apart from this activity some lead an almost normal life. Wearing a condom was a function of the type of partner and often of the choice imposed by the client, making this profession a source of dissemination of sexually transmitted infections because the regularity of the partner does not guarantee his fidelity [15] [16]. Most of the sex workers surveyed had recently arrived in establishments inherent in their activities. Thus our study found a strong representativeness of 53.3% for the duration of 0 - 6 months. The low representativeness for a long time could be explained by the daily violence, insecurity and abandonment motivated by the regaining of consciousness with the shame of oneself, Sexually transmitted infections accounted for 33.2% or about 15 workers and largely dominated by vaginal discharge syndrome at 80% and abdominal pain 20% thus increasing the occurrence of serious gynecological complications. Sexually transmitted infections were higher among sex workers who received a high number of clients making the trade a risk factor for infection [3] [4]. People starting out and/or working occasionally are likely to be less informed about prevention due to greater isolation. They are also exposed to special requests from certain clients who wish to obtain sex close to those that take place outside of prostitution, that is, without a condom.
Syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections was consistent with the national algorithm in 18.5% of cases. This rate is low compared to that of South Africa where it ranges from 36% to 67% [17]. This is said to be because they have guidelines for the management of sexually transmitted infections. On the other hand, in Papua New Guinea, syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections was low, estimated at between 7% and 9% [18]. This demonstrates the need for new policies for the management, monitoring and control of sexually transmitted infections to reduce transmission of human immunodeficiency virus.
5. The Encountered Difficulties
- Lack of mastery of the French language and local languages, some English-speaking participants did not want to participate in the study and the information was collected with difficulty by those who participated in the study.
- The date of birth was provided by the participant without any possibility of verification.
- The dates of the first sexual and commercial intercourse were provided by the participants without any possibility of verification.
- The participants estimated the average number of clients per day.
- For moral reasons, some married women did not want to participate in the study.
6. Conclusion
Sexually transmitted infections are common and more serious, especially in young people. Adequate management is necessary to prevent the transmission and spread of these infections. Prevention involves sex education and sensitization of young people, especially sex workers.
Acknowledgements
We thank the administrative authorities of the Kadiolo circle for completing the administrative and regulatory formalities for this work, as well as the study population for their trust.