SUAC0305 | ASSESSING PEER-LED INTERVENTION REACH AMONG FEMALE SEX WORKERS BY AGE AND REGION USING INTEGRATED BIO-BEHAVIORAL SURVEY DATA

Dennis Annang, Victor Nukunuu | Ghana AIDS Commission, Accra, Ghana

In Ghana, HIV disproportionately affects Female Sex Workers (FSWs), who continue to face persistent structural and behavioral vulnerabilities. Peer-led interventions have been a cornerstone of HIV prevention programming for FSWs, aiming to enhance service uptake through trust-building, peer education, and linkage to care. This study assesses the impact of these interventions on HIV prevention and health-seeking behaviors among FSWs, using data from the 2020 Integrated Bio-Behavioral Survey (IBBSS). This secondary analysis utilized data from the IBBSS conducted in 2020 among FSWs across Ghana’s 16 regions. Data was analyzed using Stata IC 16. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and proportions, were calculated for categorical data. A total of 6,773 FSWs participated in the survey. HIV prevalence among FSWs was 4.6%. Notably, 52.3% of FSWs reported contact with peer educators in the year leading up to the survey. Younger FSWs (aged 16–24) showed lower contact rates with peer educators (43.4%) compared to older counterparts, indicating a gap in outreach coverage. The results also indicated that contact with peer educators increases with age, peaking among FSWs aged 50 and above (60.1%) and those aged 30–39 (59.8%). The lowest engagement was among FSWs aged 16–24 (43.4%), suggesting that there must be targeted strategies to reach younger FSWs. Regional differences were also showed that Ashanti recorded the highest peer educator contact (72.6%), followed by Accra (66.7%) and Central (59.3%). Western North (2.2%) and Eastern (15%) had the lowest rates. The findings point out the vital role that peer-led interventions play in improving HIV prevention among FSWs in Ghana. However, the lower contact rates among younger FSWs in regions like Western North and Eastern reveal significant gaps in outreach. We need age-sensitive and geographically targeted strategies to address these disparities and ensure equitable access to services. Additionally, strengthening peer-led programs will be vital to increasing engagement, enhancing service uptake, and ultimately reducing HIV vulnerability among all segments of the FSW population.