Mombasa Cohort Study for Estimation of HIV-1 Incidence | ICRH

TEAM MEMBERS 

Dr. Stanley Lucters; Dr. Evans Malava; Ms Wilkister Bosire; Ms Margaret Mwakiridia; Ms Caro Njeru; Ms Dorothy Mbweka; Ms Mukami Mbogo; Ms Elizabeth Makena; Ms Millicent Olulo; Ms Grace Aketch; Mr william Botta; Ms Victoria Oyier; Ms Agnes Karanja; Ms Elizabeth Kivumbi; Ms; Jane Adhiambo; Fahamu Kazungu; Omar Mohamed; Gladys Kadenyi; Chamosi Mwinyihaji

PERIOD 

18 Months

This was a prospective, cohort study with 400 HIV uninfected female sex workers from Changamwe and Kisauni divisions of Mombasa District with a follow-up of up 12 months for each participant. Female sex workers were defined as women who (self) reported to have received money in exchange for sex as part of their livelihood over the last 6 months. Volunteers had to be HIV negative, sexually active, 16 years of age or older and have a negative pregnancy test at screening.
 
400 female sex workers were recruited competitively at the two different sites. Community field workers recruited locally from each site facilitated the recruitment of volunteers and tracing of study participants throughout the study period.
 
At each visit, a behavioral questionnaire was administered assessing sexual risk behaviour, vaginal practices, knowledge and perception of HIV risk. Voluntary HIV testing and counseling, and contraceptive and risk reduction counseling were provided. Contraceptives, male and female condoms were offered for free. Pregnancy testing and STI screening and treatment, and appropriate referrals were done as needed.