Characterizing Strategies to Prevent Mother to Child Transmission of HIV among Female Sex Workers in the Eastern Cape of South Africa
Abstract
The overall objective of this study is to characterize the risks for vertical transmission of HIV from mother to child among female sex workers (FSW) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. This will enable us to better understand FSW engagement in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs and the barriers involved.
While there has been no evaluation of the needs of sex workers in the Eastern Cape, our work in other sites has indicated the high risk of vertical transmission of HIV among FSW given limited uptake of existing PMTCT programs given limited capacity to provide services as well as significant enacted and perceived stigma. The proposed assessment will include an assessment of specific pregnancy-related HIV prevention needs of FSW living with HIV using a Positive Health Dignity and Prevention (PHDP) approach including challenges to accessing prevention services, treatment, care and support and referrals to and from relevant points of service within the facility and community contexts
