Public health challenges posed by delays in obtaining COVID-19 clearance for long-distance truckers across East Africa

Gachohi, John; Aduda, Jane; Thuo, Reuben; Mung’atu, Joseph; Wamunyokoli, Fred; Ngigi, Thomas G.; Athiany, Henry; Kikuvi, Gideon; Mambo, Susan; Gichaiya, Wairimu; Matheri, Joseph Mwangi; Mburugu, Patrick; Simba, Justus; Otiwa, Carol; Muriuki, Charles; Mwaura, Joshua Irungu; Yariwo, May; Kariuki, Beatrice N; Machua, Joseph; Mwangi, Catherine; Amoth, Patrick; Aman, Rashid; Kamau, Onesmus; Muthoka, Kennedy; Otieno, Jacob; Mwele, Pascal; Nzioka, Rose; Karanja, Simon

doi:10.1016/j.gloepi.2020.100039

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Furthermore, the long period of days spent by LDTDs waiting for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) clearance at the Kenya–Uganda international border towns may explain the hotspot clusters at those points. 29 Therefore, stakeholders involved in HIV programming may find an opportunity to offer more awareness on safe sexual behaviours and preventive services at stopovers where LDTDs spent longer durations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research shows that LDTDs could spend as long as 10 days at the Kenya–Uganda border points waiting for COVID-19 test results during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. 29 Delays at the Kenya–Uganda border points meant there was more time for LDTDs to establish casual sexual partnerships, contributing to casual partners' hotspots at those points. The distribution of hotspots of regular sexual partners was widely spread across the Northern Corridor highway.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial distribution of sexual network locations used by long-distance truck drivers along the Northern Corridor highway, Kenya

Mutie

Kairu-Wanyoike

Mambo

et al. 2023

International Health

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Background In Kenya, long-distance truck drivers (LDTDs) using the Northern Corridor highway have a high prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) due to their risky sexual networks. However, the spatial distribution of the sexual network locations used by LDTDs is not well understood. Consequently, healthcare stakeholders have found it difficult to provide spatially targeted HIV/STI interventions among LDTDs. Thus, the study sought to establish the spatial distribution of sexual network locations used by LDTDs along the Northern Corridor highway, to inform efficient distribution and use of limited HIV/STI-prevention resources. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used. The study adopted a systematic sampling technique. 296 LDTDs were interviewed using interviewer-administered questionnaires at the Mlolongo weighbridge in Kenya. The LDTDs listed their history of sexual interactions and highway stopovers used during the week preceding data collection. Geospatial modelling techniques, using R statistical software packages for spatial mapping, were employed. Shapefiles were created and overlaid over a map of Kenya using R statistical software to create maps of sexual networks. Results Forty-two highway stopovers used by LDTDs were spatially distributed along the highway, from the Kenya coast to the Kenya–Uganda border. In general, LDTDs’ sexual network hotspots were restricted to the outskirts of major cities along the Northern Corridor highway (Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru) as well as the Kenya–Uganda international border. Conclusions On the Northern Corridor highway, stopovers situated proximal to major urban areas, as well as those at international border points, frequently serve as sexual network hotspots among LDTDs and their sexual partners. Thus, healthcare stakeholders should improve access to HIV/STI-prevention services targeted for LDTDs at the sexual network hotspots identified in this study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution of sexual network locations used by long-distance truck drivers along the Northern Corridor highway, Kenya

Mutie

Kairu-Wanyoike

Mambo

et al. 2023

International Health

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“…As of May 29, 2020, 71.8% of confirmed cases corresponded to truck drivers. Gachohi et al (2020) reported an increase in HIV and a greater risk of contagion of COVID-19 in East Africa due to longer waiting times by truckers at their various intermediate stops. In Qingdao, China, Liu et al (2020) found COVID-19 particles in imported frozen products close to being dispatched by the different transport modes to local markets.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Containing the spatial spread of COVID-19 through the trucking network

et al. 2022

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“…In Zambia, tight work schedules, with very little time to rest among LDTDs posed difficulties in utilizing HIV/STI preventive services [10]. Recently, delays due to COVID-19 clearance requirements among LDTDs could have adversely affected their uptake of key public health services [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilization of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections Prevention Services, and Associated Factors among the Long-Distance Truck Drivers along the Northern Corridor Highway, Kenya

Mutie¹,

Kairu-Wanyoike²,

Mambo³

et al. 2021

ASM

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Background: Often, long-distance truck drivers' (LDTDs') work predisposes them to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) whose outcomes are influenced by access and behavior of seeking sexual health care. Methodology: In this study, we assessed the utilization of HIV/STI preventive services and associated factors among 296 LDTDs operating along the northern corridor highway using an interviewer-administered questionnaire for data collection at Mlolongo stopover in Machakos, Kenya. Responses for the investigated variables, including condom use, history of HIV testing, frequency of HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and follow-up for the HIV positive and STI treatment, were assigned a score of either 1 or 0 depending on the question's dimension. Following summing up for each participant, we computed a weighted score ranging between 0 and 1 by dividing the summed responses by the number of eligible variables. We arbitrarily multiplied these scores by 8 to generate endpoint scores ranging from one to eight for each participant to help create a dichotomized outcome variable for utilization levels: limited utilization (1 to 4) and good utilization (5 to 8). Association between certain independent variables and the outcome variable (level of utilization of H.I.V./STIs preventive services) was analyzed using binomial logistic regression analysis in R statistical software. Results: The mean age of the LDTDs was 38.4 years, ranging from 24 -57 years. The majority (n = 287, 97%) of the LDTDs had been tested on HIV at least once since the beginning of their career. Only 4.9% of the LDTDs had been tested on HIV within the previous three months. Of the 175 LDTDs who reported a history of STI, most (n = 173, 98.9%

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Public health challenges posed by delays in obtaining COVID-19 clearance for long-distance truckers across East Africa

Cited by 4 publications

References 20 publications

Spatial distribution of sexual network locations used by long-distance truck drivers along the Northern Corridor highway, Kenya

Spatial distribution of sexual network locations used by long-distance truck drivers along the Northern Corridor highway, Kenya

Containing the spatial spread of COVID-19 through the trucking network

Utilization of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections Prevention Services, and Associated Factors among the Long-Distance Truck Drivers along the Northern Corridor Highway, Kenya

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