Prevalence of STIs Among Female Sex Workers in Agadir in the South of Morocco

Background:  In 2011, the MOH in Morocco conducted a study to determine the prevalence of STIs and HIV among FSW in Agadir. Interest in STIs began in the 90s. In fact, Morocco has implemented the syndromic approach for the management of STIs since 1998. Morocco has areas with concentrated and low level epidemic. Some data exist on STI and HIV prevalence among FSW and they show that in Agadir these prevalences are Higher than some other cities.

Methods:  A sample of 372 FSW was recruited in Agadir using the Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS). For each recruit, a questionnary was administred and genital and blood samples were collected. Culture was performed for identification of Neisseiria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). The genital samples were also analysed by PCR to detect Neisseiria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT). The HIV and Syphilis status were screened by rapid tests and TPHA-VDRL using WHO algorithms.

Results:  The findings shows that 11.6% of women have a vaginal infection due to  TV. Cervical infection was found in 26.2% of FSW with 11.7% due to GC and 22.4 % due to CT. The serology tests shows that 5.1% of FSW were tested positive for HIV and 21.4% were tested positive for Syphilis.

 

Conclusions: The prevalence of STIs among FSW in Agadir has increased significantly compared to the results obtained in another study conducted in 2007, among FSW attending basic health centers for vaginal discharge and/or abdominal pain and which has showed that 7,1% of cervical infections were caused by GC, 19,1% by CT , 1.5% of FSW were infected with HIV and 13.8% infected with Syphilis. These findings have confirmed the need for the establishment and expansion of programs targeting FSW in Agadir and helped the National AIDS Program (NAP) to strengthen the strategy of prevention and control of STIs in this region.