Sexually Transmitted Infections and Risk Factors Among Truck Stand Workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Objective-This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of selected sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their risk factors among workers in and near a truck stand in Dhaka, Bangladesh.Study Design-A random sample of 696 men and 206 women were recruited into a cross-sectional study using a census that enumerated transport agents, motor mechanics, laborers, and vendors in Tejgaon truck stand.Results-The prevalence rates of syphilis (rapid plasma reagin and Treponema pallidum hemagglutination), gonorrhea (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]), and chlamydial infections (PCR) among men were 4.1%, 7.7%, and 2.3%, respectively, and among women were 2.9%, 8.3%, and 5.2%. Multivariable analysis revealed that having ≥2 sex partners in the last month, never using a condom with sex workers, and ever injecting narcotics were significant predictors of STI among men. Being never married, working as a laborer, older age, and living within the truck stand were significant predictors of practicing high-risk behaviors among men, but none predicted infection with STIs.Conclusions-Both behavioral and STI data suggest that truck stand workers should be included in the STI/HIV intervention programs.Long distance truckers and their helpers are considered at especially high risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 1,2 Their role as a bridge population between high-risk persons and the general population for transmitting STI/HIV has long been recognized. [3][4][5][6][7][8] Men and women working in a truck stand as transport agents or other occupations and living in, or in close proximity of, truck stands may be at higher risk for STI/HIV because of possible sexual mixing among truck drivers, sex workers, and those persons working/living in truck stand setting. 3,9,10 Copyright © 2007, American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association All rights reserved. Materials and Methods Study Design, Site, and PopulationWe conducted a cross-sectional study among adult men aged 15 to 55 years and women aged 15 to 49 years working in the Tejgaon truck stand of Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The target population included individuals working as transport agents, motor mechanics, laborers, and small vendors in the truck stop for more than 3 months before the time of the study, but excluded truck drivers and their helpers. We identified 1649 men and 423 women working in the truck stand through a 2000 census in this community. A random sample of 839 men and 236 women was selected using probability sampling. Approval of the study was obtained from the ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research, Bangladesh ethical review committee. Data CollectionStudy interviewers visited the workplaces and/or residences of all selected subjects and invited them to our clinics to participate. Written informed consent was obtained from each enrolled subject. Sociodemographic and behavioral information were collected by same-sex interviewers using semistructured questionnaires. Trained physicians examined the participa...

A study on sexual risk behaviors of long-distance truck drivers in central India

“…6 Studies in the country have found high HIV (2-13 %) and high STI prevalence (3-16 %) among long distance truck drivers. 4,11,12 Therefore the present study aimed to examine the risk behaviors and Prevalence of STI's among Long distance truck drivers in association with their age, education, length of time away from home and CSW's exposure.…”

“…The sexual behavior of trucking populations has been associated with the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI's) and HIV in India and elsewhere in Asia, Africa, South America and the United States. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] The most of incidence of HIV and STI occurs in places where trucks are loaded and unloaded, or where truck drivers stop to have their documentation inspected (which can take a considerable length of time). 10 The truck drivers, due to the itinerant nature of their occupation and being far away from their families for a long time tend to have multiple sexual partners and visit commercial sex workers.…”

Traditional use of medicinal plants in Bangladesh to treat urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases

“…In a study conducted with truck stand workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh the prevalence rates of syphilis and gonorrhea among men was observed to be 4.1 and 7.7%, respectively (Alam et al 2007). Among hotelbased sex workers, a total of 8.5% had syphilis and 86.8% proved positive for at least one reproductive tract infection (RTI) or sexually transmitted infection (STI) (Nessa et al 2004).…”

HIV/AIDS and the long-distance truck drivers in south-west Nigeria: A cross-sectional survey on the knowledge, attitude, risk behaviour and beliefs of truckers

“…In Nigeria and many other countries of the world, the sexual behaviour of truckers coupled with their low level of education and poor HIV awareness, campaign among them have ranked high as the main cause of the relatively high rate of HIV prevalence among them [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. In many situations, the truckers, looking for alternative outlets for satisfying their sexual needs and to reduce the loneliness caused by the absence from their families, have been known to visit female sex workers (FSW) quite frequently [7].…”

“…In Bangladesh, analysis of survey data among truckers revealed that having more than one sexual partner in the last month, never using a condom with sex workers and ever injected narcotics were significant predictors of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among truckers [8].…”