title: HIV prevalence and behavioral studies in female sex workers in Togo: a decline in the prevalence between 2005 and 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We determined the sero-prevalence of HIV among female sex workers (FSWs) in Togo identified their sexual risk behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study from 17 to 27 December, 2011 on 1106 FSWs in Togo. Venous sample were collected to estimate HIV prevalence as per national algorithms. Behavior data were collected by interviewer-administered questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1106 FSWs (mean age = 27.6 years) surveyed, 17% and 63% had their first sexual intercourse before the age of 15 and 18 years respectively. Overall, 43.4% of the FSWs had more than seven clients per week. Most FSWs (95%) said they had sex using a condom in their lifetime while 8.8% had used a condom during their last sexual intercourse. About 79% of FSWs used a condom during their sexual encounters the previous week and 11.6% had used a condom during each of their sexual encounters the previous day. Most FSWs (62.2%) reported to have been tested for HIV. Of these, 145 (13.1%) were HIV positive. HIV sero-prevalence decreased from 19.4% in the south to 7.5% in the north of the country. Behaviors associated with FSW being HIV positive included: FSW having more than 7 clients per week (p < 0.001), not using condoms at every intercourse act (p = 0.003) or during the last sexual encounter (p = 0.006) and trading sex in brothels (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We estimate HIV sero-prevalence among FSWs in 2011 to be 13.1% in Togo, significantly lower than a prevalence of 29.5% estimated previously in 2005. Inconsistent use of condoms was identified as associated with high risk factor for acquiring HIV.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Togo ; Department of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), CHU Sylvanus Olympio, University of Lomé, Togo.
authors.forename: Palokinam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pitché
authors.forename: Komi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gbetoglo
authors.forename: Bayaki
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saka
authors.forename: Séfako
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akakpo
authors.forename: Dadja Essoya
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Landoh
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: d'Alméida
authors.forename: Abiba Kere
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Banla
authors.forename: Dométo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sodji
authors.forename: Kodzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deku
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014037:Togo / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV; Sex workers; Togo; sexual behavior