Abstract 
Past studies that have designed interventions to reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have typically provided onsite treatment to sex workers who tested positive, which were expensive and difficult to implement. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an intervention that tested for STIs and provided information on the closest treatment facility to reduce the prevalence of STIs among female brothel-based sex workers (BSWs) in Bangladesh. The study adopted a pre–post interventional design as well as a randomized controlled study design. A baseline sample and follow-up urine sample were collected to evaluate the prevalence of STIs among participants in the treatment but not the control group. A baseline survey and interviews were also conducted for both groups. The study found a nonsignificant reduction from baseline to follow-up in STI prevalence among intervention participants (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.38, 1.45). However, the participants in the intervention group were significantly more likely to have a repeat client (aOR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.29) and non significantly less likely to engage with a client suspected of having an STI (aOR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.39, 1.00) than participants in the control group. The intervention testing of STIs and providing information about the positive cases at the nearest treatment facilities were not effective in reducing the prevalence of STIs among BSWs. Further study of the clinical and behavioral impacts of such efforts to reduce STIs among BSWs is warranted.
Authors: Asad Islam, HongQi Alexis Tan, Claire C. Bristow, Md Golam Hasnain, Russell Smyth, and Liang Choon Wang
Type: Journal Article
Year: February 2021
Key Results
- The intervention testing of STIs and providing information to the positive cases about the nearest treatment facilities were not effective in reducing the prevalence of STIs among BSWs.
- Participants in the intervention group were significantly more likely to have a repeat client than participants in the control group.
- Participants in the intervention group were not significantly less likely to engage with a client suspected of having an STI than participants in the control group.