sex

13 female sex workers carry syphilis

Hot-blooded men beware!
Some 13 female sex workers in Iloilo City have carried syphilis, the Integrated HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance (IHBSS) Team here disclosed.
An online dictionary said syphilis is a serious sexually-transmitted disease caused by the spirally twisted bacterium that affects many body organs and parts including genitals, brain, skin and nervous tissue.
The IHBSS is a systematic collection, analysis and dissemination of data pertaining to sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
The team conducted the behavioral survey and serologic (blood sample collection) surveillance on registered female sex workers (RFSWs) and freelance sex workers (FLSWs) in the city from August to September 2007.
“The test results showed that all RFSWs and FLSWs serologic surveillance participants tested negative of HIV. Syphilis test results showed that two RFSWs and 11 FLSWs were positive for syphilis,” revealed Dr. Ma. Odeta Villaruel, IHBSS team leader.
Villaruel said the “risk group” RFSWs were accessed and interviewed in entertainment establishments including videoke, bars, and massage parlors and Social Hygiene Clinic (SHC) of City Health Office (CHO).
The FLSWs are those found in “streets, pick-up points and casa.”
CHO chief Dr. Urminico Baronda warned: “Syphilis thrives in the blood – you may treated this year – but become positive again next year.”
Villaruel noted there have been four RFSWs here tested positive of HIV in 1995, 1998, 1999 and 2002.
To keep track of the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) has established the passive surveillance system to log all confirmed HIV/AIDS cases.
A total of 3,061 HIV positive cases have been recorded in the National HIV/AIDS Registry from January 1984 to December 2007.
Of which, 2,279 or 74.5 percent were asymptomatic (having no symptoms) and 872 or 25.5 percent were AIDS cases
Sexual intercourse is still the leading mode of transmission accounting 88 percent of the cases.
In 1993 and 1997, DOH established the active surveillance systems, HIV Serologic Surveillance (HSS) and Behavioral Sentinel Surveillance (BSS) respectively.
In 1994, the National HIV/AIDS Sentinel Surveillance System (NHSSS) of the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) selected Iloilo City as one of the sentinel sites.
The same year, Iloilo City HSS Team started conducting the serologic surveillance for both registered and freelance female sex workers.
From 1997-2001 or during the USAID-funded AIDS Surveillance and Education program (ASEP) of NHSSS, the behavioral surveillance in the city was carried out by Kabalaka Reproductive Health Center-Central Philippine University (CPU) while its implementation was done in close coordination with CHO.
During its first round, only the registered and freelance female sex workers were monitored.
In 1998, men having sex with men (MSM) were identified and included as one of the “at-risk groups.”
In 2002, CHO through SHC started to carry out the behavioral surveillance as part of the LGU’s commitment to ASEP Project.
It was done with continued assistance from Kabalaka and Process Foundation given the CHO’s lack of manpower and resources as well as data gathering capability to implement the activity.
In 2003, an HBS or HIV Behavioral Surveillance manual was provided by NEC-DOH while CHO with fieldwork assistance from Process Foundation conducted the survey.
In 2005 with funding support from USAID’s Lead for Health Project (Management Sciences for Health) and technical assistance from Family Health International, the IHBSS (formerly BSS and HSS) was conducted by CHO for NEC-DOH in coordination with Process Foundation.
During this round, NEC-DOH modified the system to have a better and an in-depth understanding of HIV situation.
Hence, risk groups were assessed, questionnaires were reviewed and revised and methodology was modified.
In 2007, while over the years the SHC has developed the capacity to conduct both serologic and behavioral surveillance, the activity was again carried out, employing methodologies based on the learning obtained from 2005 IHBSS.
It was funded by UN’s Global Fund through the Tropical Disease Foundation and DOH (NEC and Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC).