Abstract |
Objectives: We evaluated motorcycle taxi (‘boda-boda’) drivers in Kampala for the prevalence of HIV/sexually transmitted infections. Methods: We used respondent-driven sampling to recruit a cross-sectional sample of boda-boda drivers. We collected data through audio computer-assisted self-administered interviews. Men were tested for HIV, syphilis serology using Rapid Plasma Reagin and enzyme immunoassay, and Chlamydia and gonorrhoea using urine polymerase chain reaction. Results: We recruited 683 men. Median age was 26 years; 59.4% were single. The prevalence of HIV was 7.5% (95% CI 5.2–10.0), of positive syphilis serology was 6.1% (95% CI 4.3–8.1), of Chlamydia was 1.1% (95% CI 0.4–2.0), and of gonorrhea was 1.2% (95% CI 0.1–1.2). Many men (67.8%) had both casual and regular partners, sex with other men (8.7%), and commercial sex (33.1%). Factors associated with having HIV included reporting a genital ulcer (odds ratio (OR) ¼2.4, 95% CI 1.4–4.4), drinking alcohol during last sex (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.7), having 4–6 lifetime partners (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0–4.8), and having one’s last female partner be >24 years of age (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.2–6.6). Independent predictors of HIV included age 31 (adjusted OR (aOR) 5.8, 95% CI 1.5–48.5), having 4–6 partners (aOR 2.2, 95%CI 1.0–5.1), and self-report of a genital ulcer (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2–4.1). Only 39.2% of men were circumcised, and 36.9% had been HIV tested in the past. Conclusions: Male boda-boda drivers have a higher prevalence of HIV than the general population, and low frequency of preventive behaviours, such as circumcision and HIV testing. Targeted and intensified interventions for this group are warranted.
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