Findings from a participatory mapping study to increase HIV and STI testing with female sex professionals in Pointe Noire, Congo

Background Sex workers are disproportionately affected by HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the Republic of Congo. We conducted a one-group pre-post test participatory mapping (PM) intervention to increase HIV/STI testing uptake with female sex professionals (FSP) in Pointe Noire, Congo. Methods We engaged a peer-driven sample of FSP in Pointe Noire in a 2-day PM intervention. Voluntary HIV and STI testing and treatment was offered at Time 2 (T2) (directly post-intervention) until Time 3 (T3) (8-week post intervention). To measure HIV/STI testing changes between Time 1 (T1) (baseline, lifetime HIV/STI testing), T2, and T3, we used a generalized estimating equation model with robust standard errors, using an unstructured correlation matrix to account for within-subject correlations. Results Among n = 99 participants (mean age: 25.5, standard deviation = 6.5), in analyses adjusted for age and sex work duration, there were significant increases at T2 in uptake of HIV testing (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 2.42; 95% CI = 1.31–4.48) and STI testing (aOR = 2.40; 95% CI = 1.27–4.54), as well as at T3 (HIV testing: aOR = 7.37; 95% CI = 2.82–19.23, STI testing: aOR = 5.88; 95% CI = 2.82–12.24), compared to baseline. Conclusions Findings signal the promise of community-based approaches such as participatory mapping for increasing HIV/STI testing uptake with FSP in Pointe Noire.