Background: Populations with higher risks for HIV exposure
contribute to the HIV epidemic in Kenya. We present data from the
second Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey to estimate the size and HIV
prevalence of populations with high-risk characteristics.
Methods: The Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey 2012 was a national
survey of Kenyans aged 18 months to 64 years which linked
demographic and behavioral information with HIV results. Data
were weighted to account for sampling probability. This analysis
was restricted to adults aged 18 years and older.
Results: Of 5088 men and 6745 women, 0.1% [95% confidence
interval (CI): 0.03 to 0.14] were persons who inject drugs (PWID).
Among men, 0.6% (CI: 0.3 to 0.8) had ever had sex with other
men, and 3.1% (CI: 2.4 to 3.7) were males who had ever engaged
in transactional sex work (MTSW). Among women, 1.9% (CI: 1.3
to 2.5) had ever had anal sex, and 4.1% (CI: 3.5 to 4.8) were
women who had ever engaged in transactional sex work (FTSW).
Among men, 17.6% (CI: 15.7 to 19.6) had been male clients of
transactional sex workers (TSW). HIV prevalence was 0% among
men who have sex with men, 6.3% (CI: 0 to 18.1) among persons
who injected drugs, 7.1% (CI: 4.8 to 9.4) among male clients of
TSW, 7.6% (CI: 1.8 to 13.4) among MTSW, 12.1% (CI: 7.1 to
17.1) among FTSW, and 12.1% (CI: 5.0 to 19.2) among females
who ever had engaged in anal sex.
Conclusions: Population-based data on high-risk populations can
be used to set realistic targets for HIV prevention, care, and treatment
for these groups. These data should inform priorities for high-risk
populations in the upcoming Kenyan strategic plan on HIV/AIDS.