Declines in HIV prevalence in female sex workers accessing an HIV treatment and prevention programme in Nairobi, Kenya over a 10-year period

Abstract

Objectives: Empirical time trends in HIV prevalence in female sex workers (FSWs) are helpful to understand the evolving HIV epidemic, and to monitor the scale-up, coverage, and impact of ongoing HIV prevention and treatment programmes.

Design: Serial HIV prevalence study.

Methods: We analyzed time trends in HIV prevalence in FSWs accessing services at seven Sex Worker Outreach Programme (SWOP) clinics in Nairobi from 2008 to 2017 (N = 33 560). The Mantel--Haenszel test for trend and independent samples Kruskal--Wallis test were used to analyze categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Multivariable binomial regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios/year, adjusting for several covariates.

Results: HIV prevalence decreased over time in all age groups. This was particularly evident among FSWs less than 25 years of age; HIV was 17.5% in 2008–2009, decreasing to 12.2% in 2010–2011, 8.3% in 2012–2013, 7.3% in 2014–2015, and 4.8% in 2016–2017 (P < 0.0001). Over time, FSWs reported increased condom use, particularly with regular partners, more frequent prior HIV testing, and were less likely to report a history of vaginal discharge (P < 0.0001). In adjusted analyses compared with 2008, HIV prevalence decreased in 2011 (aPR 0.64; 95% CI: 0.46–0.90), 2012 (aPR 0.58; 95% CI: 0.41–0.81), 2013 (aPR 0.53; 95% CI: 0.38–0.73), 2014 (aPR 0.48; 95% CI: 0.34–0.67), 2015 (aPR 0.50; 95% CI: 0.35–0.70), 2016 (aPR 0.40; 95% CI: 0.28–0.57), and 2017 (aPR 0.33; 95% CI: 0.22–0.50).

Conclusion: HIV prevalence has decreased among FSW accessing SWOP in Nairobi, Kenya. This decline is consistent with the scale-up of HIV prevention and treatment efforts, both in FSWs and in the general population.