TITLE:
Prevalence of Opportunist Infections among the Professionals Sex Workers and Their Customers Living with the VIH under ARV in Kinshasa
AUTHORS:
Berry Ikolango Bongenya, Ben Ilunga Bulanda, Rama Nemwandjare Bukongo, Divine Chuga, Huguette Tshueka Botomuito, Jean-Yves Debels Kabasele, Erick Ntambwe Kamangu
KEYWORDS:
Opportunistic Infection, Professional Sex Worker, ARV, VIH, Kinshasa
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.9 No.5,
May
27,
2022
ABSTRACT: Context: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the causal agent of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Professional Sex Workers (PSW) are regarded as being at a very high risk of transmission of the VIH and Opportunist Infections. Objective: To determine the prevalence of the opportunistic infections associated the VIH/AIDS on PSW under ARV treatment in Kinshasa. Methods: The present study was carried out at the IST Matonge center in Kinshasa. It was a retrospective study on patients’ files of adult PSW and their clients living with HIV, followed in this medical treatment center from 2006 to 2014. This work included all the files of adult PSW older than 18 years living with HIV followed from 2006 to 2014 in the selected center. Parameters of interest were: age, gender, HIV status, documented opportunistic infections and conditions. The files which did not contain all of the data mentioned above were not included. Results: Eighty-eight (88) files were retained according to the criteria. There were 53 women (60.2%). The most represented age group was the one from 36 to 45 years with 31.8%, followed by that of 26 to 35 years (26.1%), 46 to 55 years (22.7%), 56 to 65 years (10.2%), and that of 18 to 25 years (8.0%). The most diagnosed and recorded opportunistic infection was the Oral Candidiasis with 15.8% of cases; followed by non-specific Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) with 14.3%, Malaria with 12.1%, Dermatitis with 8.1%, Tuberculosis (TBC) and Shingles with 6.2% respectively. Conclusion: Oral candidiasis (15.8%) was the most common Opportunistic Infection diagnosed among Professional Sex Workers followed at the “IST Matonge Center” in Kinshasa. The profile of OIs among PSWs living with HIV is different from that of general population.