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. 2023 Oct 20;23(1):2054.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16903-1.

A cross-sectional survey exploring HIV and HCV prevalence among men who purchase sex in Dnipro, Ukraine

Lisa Lazarus #  1   2 , Nicole Herpai #  3   4 , Daria Pavlova  5 , Amaanat Gill  4 , François Cholette  6   7 , Leigh M McClarty  3   4 , Shajy Isac  3   4   8 , Anna Lopatenko  9 , Michael Pickles  10 , Sharmistha Mishra  11   12   13   14 , Souradet Y Shaw  3   4 , Robert Lorway  3   4 , Lyle R McKinnon  6   15   16 , Paul Sandstrom  6   7 , James Blanchard  3   4 , Olga Balakireva  5   17 , Marissa L Becker  3   4 ; Dynamics Study Team
Collaborators, Affiliations

A cross-sectional survey exploring HIV and HCV prevalence among men who purchase sex in Dnipro, Ukraine

Lisa Lazarus et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: HIV programming in Ukraine largely targets "key population" groups. Men who purchase sex are not directly reached. The aim of our study was to explore the prevalence of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) among men who purchase sex from female sex workers.

Methods: Following geographic mapping and population size estimation at each "hotspot", we conducted a cross-sectional bio-behavioural survey with men who purchase sex between September 2017 and March 2018 in Dnipro, Ukraine. Eligibility criteria included purchasing sex services at a "hotspot" and being ≥ 18 years. Participants completed a structured questionnaire, followed by HIV/HCV rapid testing and a dried blood spot (DBS) sample collection for confirmatory serology.

Results: The study enrolled 370 participants. The median age was 32 (interquartile range [IQR] = 27-38) and the median age of first purchase of sexual services was 22 (IQR = 19-27). Over half (56%) of participants reported ever testing for HIV; four participants (2%, N = 206) reported having tested positive for HIV, with three out of the four reporting being on ART. Forty percent of participants had ever tested for HCV, with three (2%, N = 142) having ever tested positive for HCV. In DBS testing, nine participants (2.4%) tested positive for HIV and 24 (6.5%) tested positive for ever having an HCV infection.

Conclusion: Prevalence of HIV and HCV in this population was high. Given high rates of study enrolment and testing, efforts should be made to reach men who purchase sex with expanded STBBI programming.

Keywords: Clients; HCV; HIV; Men who purchase sex; Sex work; Ukraine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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