Analysis of duration of risk behaviour for key populations: a literature review
Open Access
- 20 November 2012
- journal article
- review article
- Published by BMJ in Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Vol. 88 (uppl 2), i24-i32
- https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2012-050647
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to review literature in order to calculate regional estimates of the average duration of time individuals maintain a specific high-risk behaviour. The review targeted the key populations of female sex workers (FSW), male clients of female sex workers (MCFSW), people who inject drugs (injecting drug users (IDU)) and high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM). To be included in the review the study had to provide information on (1) the time a person spent at risk until death or cessation of the risk behaviour, (2) the percentage of the sample who initiated the risk behaviour in less than a year or (3) the mean or median duration of the behaviour from a representative sample. 49 papers were found for the FSW population describing the period of time FSW stay in sex work to be between 2.9 years (Asia) and 12 years (Latin America). Eight papers were found for MCFSW showing the duration of the risk behaviour in this category varying from 4.6 years in Africa to 32 years in Asia. 86 papers were reviewed for the population of IDU showing that the average time a person injects illegal drugs varies from 5.6 years (Africa) to 21 years (South America). No information was found for duration of high-risk behaviour among MSM; instead, the definitions found in the literature for high- and low-risk behaviour among MSM were described. There is high variability of estimates of duration of high-risk behaviours at regional level. More research is needed to inform models and prevention programmes on the average duration of time individuals maintain a specific high-risk behaviour.Keywords
This publication has 106 references indexed in Scilit:
- An Analysis of Respondent Driven Sampling with Injection Drug Users (IDU) in Albania and the Russian FederationJournal of Urban Health, 2006
- What happens to women who sell sex? Report of a unique occupational cohortSexually Transmitted Infections, 2006
- CCR5 expression and duration of high risk sexual activity among HIV-seronegative men who have sex with menAIDS, 2006
- HIV and HCV testing for young drug users in Rhode IslandJournal of Adolescent Health, 2006
- Injection Risk Behavior among Women Syringe Exchangers in San FranciscoSubstance Use & Misuse, 2005
- Cellular Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)–Protective Factors: A Comparison of HIV‐Exposed Seronegative Female Sex Workers and Female Blood Donors in Abidjan, Côte d’IvoireThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2003
- Hepatitis C virus infection and needle exchange use among young injection drug users in San FranciscoHepatology, 2001
- Prevalence and risk assessment for sexually transmitted infections in pregnant women and female sex workers in Mali: is syndromic approach suitable for screening?Sexually Transmitted Infections, 1999
- HIV infection and risk factors among female sex workers in southern VietnamAIDS, 1998
- Sexual transmission of human T‐lymphotropic virus type I in Peruvian prostitutesJournal of Medical Virology, 1992