Background: Fishing communities have been identified among the vulnerable groups at high
risk for acquiring sexually transmitted infections. This vulnerability is mainly due to their
mobility, time away from home, access to cash income and commercial sex at landing sites.
Data on prevalence and associated factors for sexually transmitted infections in fishing
communities is limited.
Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection
(HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and syphilis and the
associated risk factors in the fishing communities.
Methodology: This was a cross sectional community-based study conducted at Mwaloni
landing site along the shores of Lake Victoria basin in Mwanza region conducted between
October 2012 and March 2013. Information on socio-demographic characteristics and factors
associated with acquisition of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis were obtained using a structured
questionnaire. Blood samples were collected and screened for HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis.
Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the risk factors for acquisition of
infections. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 448 individuals were included in the study. The mean age was 33.5 years
(range 18-70 years). Many participants (61.2%) were males and (70.5%) had primary
education. Of participants 235 (52.5%) were fish traders. The prevalence of HIV, HBV,
HCV and syphilis were found to be 9.8%, 9.2%, 5.6% and 14.3%, respectively. Regular
alcohol consumption was found to be a risk factor for acquiring HIV infection (OR=4.4,
95%CI=1.7-11.8) in the fishing community. Study participants who had used the health
services in the past one year were more likely to have HIV infection (OR=3.8, 95%CI=1.9-
7.4) Health services were accessible within a distance of five kilometres and 29.5% of the
study respondents had used these services in the past twelve months.
Conclusions: The prevalence of STIs in the fishing community was found to be higher
compared to the prevalence figures of STIs in Tanzania for the general population. Regular
alcohol consumption was found to be a risk factor for acquiring HIV in the fishing
community. Utilization of health services in the fishing community was found to be low.
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Recommendations: Health education targeting reduction of alcohol consumption in fishing
communities should be emphasized. Mobile health services focusing on prevention and
treatment of STIs in fishing communities are needed to prevent transmission of STIs in these
communities.