Shida ni nini hapa? Shetani?!

[Mwanamayu]

http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/10752-unsafe-sex-rampant-study

 

[John W. Mlacha]

A RECENT survey by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare shows that prostitutes or Female Sex Workers (FSW) in Dar es Salaam attract more than 15,000 men a day and half of them prefer unprotected sex at a higher price. And the business involving at least 5,000 to 10,000 female commercial sex workers fetches
between 50,000/- and 200,000/- a month depending on the 'value' of the worker.According to "HIV Behavioural and Biological Surveillance Survey among Female Sexual Workers in Dar es Salaam," conducted in 2010 and launched at the weekend, many FSW manage to 'sleep' with at least five men a day while condom use being less consistent. But to make it even worrying is that three in every ten FSW have contracted HIV while more than 10 in every 100 have Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STI) including the deadly Hepatitis B and C.Illiteracy and poverty among many FSW is reported as the main contributing factors behind the risky business which left more than 30 per cent of the estimated 7,500 of them to contract HIV-AIDS but haven't retired from the business. The survey showed further that 72 per cent of the FSW had attended some or completed primary education, while 19.4 per cent had some or completed secondary education and seven per cent have no any formal education.According to the survey, HIV prevalence among FSW was higher than that of Dar es Salaam women general population aged between 15 and 49 whose prevalence was 10.4 per cent. The report also shows the prevalence of syphilis among female sex workers at 2.0 per cent, Hepatitis B virus (6.3 per cent), Hepatitis C virus (3.4 per cent), gonorrhea (10.5 per cent), chlamydia (6.3 per cent), T. Vaginalis (4.2 per cent), candidiasis (8.0 per cent), as well as other sexually transmitted infections (27.3 per cent). According to the survey, 96.3 per cent of the FSWs used condoms when meeting their clients, while only 31.6 per cent used a condom when they met their steady partner.Launching the report, the Acting Director of Preventive Services in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mr Elias Chinamo, said new strategies are needed to address the situation.