244343 A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on HIV risk among fishermen

Monday, October 31, 2011

Alex Smolak, MSW , Social Intervention Group, Columbia University, New York, NY
Martin Choo , Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Adeeba Kamarulzaman, MD , Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nabila El-Bassel, DSW , School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY
Brooke S. West, MA , Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY
Louisa Gilbert, PhD , Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University, New York, NY
Background: Research suggests that fishermen engage in high levels of HIV risk behavior. Yet, little intervention research has been conducted among this population. This presentation will report the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on fishermen and HIV risks globally.

Methods: This systematic review includes 53 peer-reviewed articles and gray literature from 1985 to 2011 that addressed HIV risks among fishermen. Inclusion criteria allowed for the approximation of seafarer and boatmen samples without biasing the analysis in order to increase the total sample. Event rates, 95% confidence intervals, and pooled proportions were calculated for the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using Q-statistic and the I statistic. Publication bias was examined with Egger's and Begg's tests.

Results: Preliminary results show that fishermen engage in high risk sexual behaviors for HIV and a shortage of injection drug use data. Fishermen tend to engage in sex trading and have less access to HIV prevention. The pooled estimates indicated that more than half of fishermen engaged in sex trading with a female sex worker (FSW) (pooled proportion = 0.527; CI: 0.510, 0.545). However, most of these fishermen who reported sex with FSW did also report using a condom (pooled proportion = 0.791; CI: 0.769, 0.813). Additionally, more than half of the fishermen reported having had extra-marital sex (pooled proportion = 0.573; CI: 0.526, 0.619).

Conclusions: The findings have important implications for HIV research with fishermen and prevention strategies to address the growing HIV epidemic among this population.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Epidemiology
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Discuss HIV risk among fishermen and the type of HIV prevention intervention strategies needed.

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Migrant Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am toward the end of my doctoral training in social work and epidemiology with a focus on HIV prevention.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: New Frontiers: HIV/AIDS in Rural Communities
See more of: HIV/AIDS