Abstract

Background

Interventions to change behaviour among sex workers and their clients have been identified as a strategy to reduce HIV transmission. However, there has been no systematic review that has examined and summarized their effects.

Objectives

To identify and evaluate the effects of the studies performed on behavioural interventions to reduce the transmission of HIV infection among sex workers and their clients in high‐income countries.

Search methods

Electronic searches were undertaken using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and other databases between January 1980 and July 2010. Experts in the field were contacted to locate any other studies.

Selection criteria

Randomised controlled trials or specified quasi‐experimental designs with comparison groups that examined the effects of behavioural interventions aimed at reducing the risk of HIV or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) transmission among sex workers in high‐income countries. We reviewed studies for outcome relevance and methodological rigor.

Data collection and analysis

Two reviewers independently applied the inclusion criteria to potential studies, and any disagreements were resolved by discussion. Studies were assessed for completeness of reporting and extracted data.

Main results

A total of four studies were included, comprising two randomised controlled trials and two quasi‐experimental pretest‐posttest trials with control groups involving 1795 participants. No trials reported HIV prevalence/incidence as outcomes.

Overall, the effects of behavioural interventions for sex workers in high‐income countries on STI incidence did not differ significantly among two studies using a random effects model (risk ratio (RR) 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11 to 1.98). Only one study found that the self‐reported STI prevalence in clients of female sex workers was statistically significant (RR 0.09, 95%CI 0.01 to 0.72, P=0.02). There was no significant difference after behavioural intervention for condom use. Two studies demonstrated the effectiveness of intervention for knowledge of HIV transmission among sex workers (RR 1.82, 95%CI 1.55 to 2.14) and clients of sex workers (RR 1.93, 95%CI 1.46 to 2.55).

Authors' conclusions

There is limited evidence from randomised controlled trials for the effectiveness of behavioural interventions to reduce the transmission of HIV infection among sex workers and their clients in high‐income countries. Further randomised controlled trials are very likely to have important impacts on our confidence in the estimates of the effects, and are likely to change the estimates for effective interventions with outcomes of HIV incidence or prevalence and a variety of different settings among sex workers and their clients in high‐income countries. Randomised controlled trials that test for the identification of effective interventions for HIV prevention with outcomes of biological endpoints, such as HIV incidence or prevalence, are needed for these neglected populations. More research is also needed for male or transgender sex workers and their clients in high‐income countries.

Author(s)

Erika Ota, Windy MV Wariki, Rintaro Mori, Narumi Hori, Kenji Shibuya

Abstract

Plain language summary

Behavioral interventions to reduce HIV transmission among sex workers and their clients in high‐income countries

Behavioural interventions, such as individual counselling, voluntary counselling and testing, peer education, negotiation skills for using a condom with their clients, assertiveness and relationship support, discussing attitudes and beliefs, videos and role‐playing, may reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI ) and improve the knowledge of HIV transmission among sex workers and their clients.

Further randomised controlled trials that test for the identification of effective interventions for HIV prevention with outcomes of biological endpoints, such as HIV incidence or prevalence, are needed for these neglected populations. More research is also needed for male or transgender sex workers and their clients in high‐income countries.

Author(s)

Erika Ota, Windy MV Wariki, Rintaro Mori, Narumi Hori, Kenji Shibuya

Reviewer's Conclusions

Authors' conclusions 

Implications for practice 

To date, four interventions have been identified that assess the effectiveness of behavioural interventions in reducing the transmission of HIV infection among sex workers and their clients in high‐income countries. The behavioural interventions were effective at reducing STI prevalence and improving the knowledge of HIV transmission, but not significant for overall STI incidence or condom use in individual‐level interventions for FSWs and their clients. The results of these interventions were positive, but more randomized controlled trials are needed before the evidence can be considered conclusive.

Implications for research 

Very little research has been carried out on the use of behavioural interventions to prevent HIV transmission among sex workers and their clients in high‐income settings. This may be a result of the difficulties associated with follow‐up tracking of highly marginalized sex workers and their clients. Further randomised controlled trials are very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimates of the effects. Rigorous interventions with outcomes of HIV incidence or prevalence, conducted among sex workers and their clients (e.g. female, male, transgender) in a variety of different settings are urgently needed. Studies on the nature and types of violence against sex workers are also necessary to provide evidence on how sex workers experience physical, psychosocial and sexual violence from the community or partners.

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