title: HIV-testing among female sex workers on the border between Brazil and French Guiana: the need for targeted interventions.
abstract: The border between Brazil and French Guiana is a place of economic, cultural, social and sexual exchange. Female sex workers represent a high risk population for HIV in this area where sexual tourism is particularly developed. HIV testing seems to be an important element in the fight against the epidemic. Indeed, early HIV testing gives access to treatments and prevention. An HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and practices survey was conducted in 2011 among sex workers along the border between Brazil and French Guiana. A total of 213 female sex workers were interviewed. One third (31.5%) of the interviewed had never tested for HIV. Factors associated with non HIV-testing were the lack of knowledge of places where to do an HIV test, to be 30 or older, feeling at risk of HIV, not evaluating one's own risk towards HIV, and living in Oiapoque. These results clearly suggest that targeted interventions are needed to encourage and assist female sex workers to get tested regularly.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles Guyane, Cayenne General Hospital, Cayenne, GF.
authors.forename: Marie-Claire
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Parriault
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles Guyane, Cayenne General Hospital, Cayenne, GF.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Melle
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles Guyane, Cayenne General Hospital, Cayenne, GF.
authors.forename: Célia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basurko
authors.affiliation: COREVIH Guyane, Cayenne General Hospital, Cayenne, GF.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaubert-Marechal
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, BR.
authors.forename: Raimunda Hermelinda Maia
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Macena
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles Guyane, Cayenne General Hospital, Cayenne, GF.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogier
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, BR.
authors.forename: Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles Guyane, Cayenne General Hospital, Cayenne, GF.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nacher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005616:French Guiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult