Does the perception of HIV risk among Female sex workers affect HIV prevention behavior? application of the Health Belief Model (HBM)

• Published in: BMC public health 2022-08, Vol.22 (1), p.1646-10, Article 1646
• Main Authors: Asefa, Adane, Midaksa, Gachana, Qanche, Qaro, Wondimu, Wondimagegn, Nigussie, Tadesse, Bogale, Biruk, Birhanu, Frehiwot, Asaye, Zufan, Mohammed, Nuredin, Yosef, Tewodros
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; AIDS; Analysis; Attitudes; Behavior; Condoms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Dependent variables; Disease prevention; Effectiveness; Epidemics; Ethiopia; Ethiopia - epidemiology; Female; Females; FSW; HBM; Health aspects; Health behavior; Health Belief Model; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health risks; HIV; HIV infection; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV/AIDS; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Independent variables; Infections; Likert scale; Perception; Perceptions; Population; Prevention; Prostitutes; Regression analysis; Risk factors; Risk perception; Sample size; Sampling techniques; Sex industry; Sex Workers; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social aspects; Statistical analysis; STD; Sustainable development; Women; Workers
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14046-3

High prevalence of Human Immune virus/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Female Sex Workers (FSWs) is identified as a bottleneck in fighting against HIV/AIDS. To this end, the international community planned a strategy of 'Ending inequality' and 'Ending the AIDS epidemic' by 2030. This could not be achieved without due attention to FSWs. Thus, this study attempted to assess HIV prevention behavior and associated factors among FSWs in Dima district of Gambella region, Ethiopia by using the Health Belief Model. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2019 among 449 FSWs selected using the snowball sampling technique. Socio-demographic features, knowledge about HIV, attitude toward HIV prevention methods, and Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs (perceived susceptibility to and severity of HIV, perceived barriers, and benefits of performing the recommended HIV prevention methods, self-efficacy, and cues to practice HIV prevention methods) were collected using face to face interview. Data were entered into Epi-data 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was done to identify the association between dependent and independent variables. P-value