HIV prevalence and risk behaviours among foreign migrant women residing in Cape Town, South Africa.
HIV prevalence and risk behaviour among foreign migrants in South Africa has not been explored. This paper describes the effectiveness of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit foreign migrant women residing in Cape Town, reports HIV prevalence, and describes key characteristics among them. We conducted a biological and behavioural surveillance survey using RDS. After written informed consent, participants completed an audio computer assisted self-interview and provided a dried blood sample for HIV analysis. HIV prevalence was estimated to be 7 % (CI 4.9-9.5) among 935 women. HIV sero-positivity was associated with older age (p = 0.001), country of origin (p < 0.000), being unmarried (p < 0.000), having lived in South Africa for 3-5 years (p = 0.023), sexual debut at ≥15 years (p = 0.047), and having used a condom at last sex with a main partner (p = 0.007). Few women reported early sexual debut, or multiple sexual partners. RDS was successful in recruiting foreign migrant women.
Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa, loraine.townsend@mrc.ac.za.
Loraine
L
Townsend
Maggie
M
Giorgio
Yanga
Y
Zembe
Mireille
M
Cheyip
Catherine
C
Mathews
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health