Article Text
Abstract
Until recently South Africa has targeted its HIV interventions towards the general population, but the National Strategic Plan of 2012–2106 has expanded this focus to include key populations with high HIV prevalence and incidence. Foremost in this group are sex workers who are identified in the 2011 South African Know Your Epidemic (KYE) as contributing as much as 20% of the HIV transmission burden in the country. A model of health care delivery through an inner city sex worker programme has steadily expanded over a decade from special services delivered in a clinic, to clinical outreach services delivered within brothels and a mobile clinic, that now includes ART. The intervention includes behaviour change communication delivered through peer educators and outreach staff, programme-supported free clinical services to detect and treat STIs, HIV counselling and testing (HCT), TB detection, contraceptive provision, male and female condom provision. Referral linkages to relevant state services including HIV and TB treatment services and reproductive health services are in place with outreach workers tracing defaulting patients. We will discuss the outcomes of community based ART for sex workers, the challenges of provision, and present outcomes including virological suppression and loss to follow up data.
- Antiretrovirals
- Sex worker
- South Africa