Abstract:
Background: Fishing communities have been identified among the vulnerable groups at high risk for acquiring sexually transmitted infections. This vulnerability is mainly due to their mobility, time away from home, access to cash income and commercial sex at landing sites. Data on prevalence and associated factors for sexually transmitted infections in fishing communities is limited.
Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and syphilis and the associated risk factors in the fishing communities.
Methodology: This was a cross sectional community-based study conducted at Mwaloni landing site along the shores of Lake Victoria basin in Mwanza region conducted between October 2012 and March 2013. Information on socio-demographic characteristics and factors associated with acquisition of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were collected and screened for HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the risk factors for acquisition of infections. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 448 individuals were included in the study. The mean age was 33.5 years (range 18-70 years). Many participants (61.2%) were males and (70.5%) had primary education. Of participants 235 (52.5%) were fish traders. The prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis were found to be 9.8%, 9.2%, 5.6% and 14.3%, respectively. Regular alcohol consumption was found to be a risk factor for acquiring HIV infection (OR=4.4, 95%CI=1.7-11.8) in the fishing community. Study participants who had used the health services in the past one year were more likely to have HIV infection (OR=3.8, 95%CI=1.9-7.4) Health services were accessible within a distance of five kilometres and 29.5% of the study respondents had used these services in the past twelve months.
Conclusions: The prevalence of STIs in the fishing community was found to be higher compared to the prevalence figures of STIs in Tanzania for the general population. Regular alcohol consumption was found to be a risk factor for acquiring HIV in the fishing community. Utilization of health services in the fishing community was found to be low.
Recommendations: Health education targeting reduction of alcohol consumption in fishing communities should be emphasized. Mobile health services focusing on prevention and treatment of STIs in fishing communities are needed to prevent transmission of STIs in these communities.
