Hepatitis B vaccination for male sex workers: the experience of a specialist GUM service.
BACKGROUND
Male sex workers are at risk of blood borne viruses but may have limited access to sexual health services, including vaccination. We explore factors associated with hepatitis B vaccination uptake among male sex workers in London


METHODS
Follow up study of men attending the Working Men's Project, a specialist health project for men who sell sex, between 1994 and 2003.


RESULTS
At baseline 797 men were screened for hepatitis B; 308 were not eligible for vaccination because of past or current infection (155, 19.4%) or previous vaccination 153 (19.2%). Of the 489 men eligible for a full course of vaccination 292 (59.8%) completed the course. Completion rates fell over time: men recruited up to 1999 were more likely to complete the course than those recruited more recently (177/259, 68.3% compared with 115/229, 50.2%, OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.48 to 3.09).


CONCLUSIONS
This specialist service achieved a high rate of vaccine completion in the early years, but the decline is a concern. It may reflect wider availability of vaccination elsewhere and a more mobile population of sex workers. Shorter courses may achieve a higher completion.
Sethi
G
G
Department of Genitourinary Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK. gsethi@doctors.org.uk
Holden
B M
BM
Greene
L
L
Gaffney
J
J
Ward
H
H
D001727:Bisexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines