Metrics details. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the reasons for non-attendance and the high rate of attrition. FGD transcripts were analyzed by identifying emerging and recurring themes that were specifically related to interactions with health services and how these affected decision-making around HIV treatment uptake and retention in care.
SWs emphasised supply-side barriers, such as being demeaned and humiliated by health workers, reflecting broader social stigma surrounding their work. Sex workers were particularly sensitive to being identified and belittled within the health care environment.
Improving treatment access for SWs is critical for their own health, programme equity, and public health benefit. Programmes working to reduce SW attrition from HIV care need to proactively address the quality and environment of public services.
Sensitising health workers through specialised training, refining referral systems from sex-worker friendly clinics into the national system, and providing opportunities for SW to collectively organise for improved treatment and rights might help alleviate the barriers to treatment initiation and attention currently faced by SW. Peer Review reports. Globally, sex workers are disproportionately affected by HIV. A recent systematic review found that HIV prevalence among sex workers ranges between 10β18 times higher than that of the general population of women of reproductive age [ 1 ].
The study they cite for Zimbabwe reported These figures are consistent with HIV prevalence data on sex worker populations throughout the region, for example, Arguments for social justice have converged with pragmatic imperatives, leading to reinvigorated efforts to reach sex workers with HIV testing and treatment [ 12 ]. The extent to which sex workers link to and are retained in HIV care as well as achieve adequate levels of adherence will determine both coverage equity and epidemiological impact.
