title: Integrated bio-behavioural HIV surveillance surveys among female sex workers in Sudan, 2011-2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess HIV and syphilis prevalence, HIV-related behaviours and testing for HIV in female sex workers (FSW) in Sudan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bio-behavioural surveys using respondent-driven sampling were carried out among FSW in the capital cities of 14 states in Sudan in 2011-2012. HIV and syphilis testing was done by rapid tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  4220 FSW aged 15-49 years were recruited. The median age of recruited women varied from 21 to 28 years per site. The highest HIV prevalence was measured at two sites in the eastern zone (5.0% and 7.7%), while in the other zones it ranged from 0% to 1.5%. Syphilis prevalence ranged from 1.5% in the northern zone to 8.9% in the eastern zone. Ever having been tested for HIV was reported by 4.4%-23.9% of FSW across all sites. Condom use at last sex with a client varied from 4.7% to 55.1%, while consistent condom use with clients in the month preceding the surveys was reported by 0.7%-24.5% of FSW. The highest reporting of ever injecting drugs was measured at a site in the western zone (5.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The surveys' findings indicate that the highest burden of HIV in FSW is in the eastern states of the country. Condom use and HIV testing data demonstrate the need for HIV interventions that should focus on HIV testing and risk reduction strategies that include stronger condom promotion programmes in FSW and their clients.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Gezira University, , Wad Madani, Gezira State, Sudan.
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elhadi
authors.forename: Abdulateef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elbadawi
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdelrahman
authors.forename: Ibtisam
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bozicevic
authors.forename: Ehab A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elmukhtar
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Mohammed Sidahmed
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Abdelraheem
authors.forename: Nazik
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mubarak
authors.forename: Salwa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elsanousi
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Setayesh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D011477:Sex Work / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Africa; Aids; Condoms; Hiv Testing; Prostitution