Metrics details. Clients of street sex workers may be at higher risk for HIV infection than the general population. Furthermore, there is a lack of knowledge regarding HIV testing of clients of sex workers in developed countries. This pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptance of rapid HIV testing by the clients of street-based sex workers in Lausanne, Switzerland.
For 5 evenings, clients in cars were stopped by trained field staff for face-to-face interviews focusing on sex-related HIV risk behaviors and HIV testing history. The clients were then offered a free anonymous rapid HIV test in a bus parked nearby. Rapid HIV testing and counselling were performed by experienced nurse practitioners. Clients with reactive tests were offered confirmatory testing, medical evaluation, and care in our HIV clinic. We intercepted men, Among them, 50 A total of 31 None were reactive.
Initially, 19 This pilot study showed that rapid HIV testing in the red light district of Lausanne was feasible, and that the clients of sex workers accepted testing at an unexpectedly high rate. Peer Review reports. Since , a yearly 3- to 5-evening preventive action called "Don Juan" has taken place on the streets of the red light districts in major Swiss cities. The prevalence of HIV in sex workers in Switzerland is unknown; however, the prevalence is presumed to be higher than in the general population due to multiple risk factors.
First, sex workers are a very heterogeneous group that includes forced migrants, injecting drug users, transsexuals, and individuals from other vulnerable and at-risk populations [ 1 ]. Furthermore, the sex workers often have unstable living and working situations.
As a consequence, their access to healthcare and disease prevention information is generally not optimal compared to the general population [ 2 β 4 ]. The prevalence of HIV in the clients of sex workers in Switzerland is also unknown.
