High burden of self-reported sexually transmitted infections among key populations in Mozambique: the urgent need for an integrated surveillance system

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are more than one million new cases of curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) every day globally [1]. These infections – caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, and Trichomonas vaginalis – can have a serious impact on health status including cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and adverse mental health [2, 3]. STIs can also be transmitted through mother-to-child transmission with adverse health outcomes such as stillbirth, neonatal death, low-birth-weight and prematurity, sepsis, pneumonia, neonatal conjunctivitis, and congenital deformities [2]. STIs can also dramatically increase the risk of acquiring Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [1]. In the most recent AIDS Indicator Survey conducted in Mozambique, self-reported STIs among the general adult population, aged 15–49, was estimated at 7% among women and 5% on men [4].

Key populations (KP), defined as men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW) and people who inject drugs (PWID), are vulnerable to both HIV and other STIs given their high-risk sexual and drug use behaviours, further heightened by structural barriers such as low access to quality health services, stigma and discrimination [3]. Given, their risk profile, WHO advocates for STI interventions to be targeted to these groups [5]. The WHO focuses on four STIs that are curable: syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis [1]. However, in Mozambique, similar to other low- and middle-income countries, diagnostic tests are largely unavailable and STI case management is based on symptomology [2, 6].

Mozambique’s National HIV Strategic Plans (2010–2014, 2015–2019) identify STI screening as an important intervention for people living with HIV [7, 8]. Given the lack of data about KP, the Strategic Plans also called for special surveys to be conducted among MSM, FSW, and PWID to estimate HIV prevalence, assess risk factors for HIV infection, and estimate population size of these KP. The first round of bio-behavioural surveillance surveys (BBS) were conducted between 2011 and 2014 in three urban areas in Mozambique and the methodology and main results have been previously published [9‐14]. Prior to the implementation of the BBS surveys, there was no data about STIs in Mozambique among KP. However, given the associated morbidity and mortality, coupled with the social, legal and structural barriers to uptake of health care services among these population groups, it is imperative that STIs are monitored and treated in order to promote general health and well-being within these populations. In addition, efforts to control STIs among KP can also reduce transmission among members of the general population who are sexual partners of KP [2].

In this context, the purpose of this secondary analysis is to assess the prevalence of self-reported STIs among participants of the first BBS surveys in Mozambique and to describe risk factors associated with STIs among these three KP groups. This analysis provides an opportunity to assess access to comprehensive HIV/STI services and to monitor the implementation of efforts aimed toward reducing STIs among KP in Mozambique. Finally, the information will provide a baseline and evidence for improving STI prevention, diagnosis and treatment services in Mozambique.

Table 1 presents the unweighted pooled demographic characteristics of the survey participant. There were 1432 MSM, 1240 FSW and 492 PWID enrolled in the surveys distributed across the three cities as follows: Maputo (MSM: 34.6%, FSW: 32.2%, PWID: 71.8%), Beira (MSM: 40.7%, FSW: 33.2%), Nampula/Nacala (MSM: 24.7%, FSW: 34.6%, PWID: 28.3%). Male PWID made up the overwhelming majority of the sample population (94.9%). The majority of MSM and FSW were less than 24 years of age, at 79.2 and 71.6%, respectively, while only 18.7% of PWID were young. Most survey participants were single or never married (MSM: 83.9%, FSW: 64.7%, PWID: 58.7%); of note, 7.1% of MSM were married or cohabitating with women, while 3.4% of MSM were married or cohabitating with men. Across all three populations, the majority of participants had secondary education or higher (MSM: 83.3%, FSW: 63.0%, PWID: 57.2%). Among MSM participants, 59.9% were employed while among FSW participants, 23.8% reported additional employment aside from sex work; employment status was not assessed for PWID. Close to two-thirds of MSM participants and male PWID participants were circumcised, 64.3 and 65.7% respectively. Most FSW participants reported ever being pregnant (69.2%).

RDS-weighted aggregate estimates of self-reported symptoms and STIs among MSM, FSW and PWID survey participants are presented in Table 2. Among MSM participants, 5.8% (95% CI: 3.4–8.2) reported penile discharge, 6.6% (95% CI: 4.0–9.2) reported a sore or ulcer near the anus or penis, and 5.0% (95% CI: 3.5–6.5) reported a previous STI diagnosis; as such 11.9% (95% CI: 7.8–16.0) of MSM participants had a self-reported STI. For FSW participants pooled across the three survey cities, vaginal discharge was reported by 26.7% (95% CI: 19.0–34.5), while 9.1% (95% CI: 1.6–16.7) reported a sore or ulcer near the vagina and 11.2% (95% CI: 7.1–15.2) reported having been previously diagnosed with an STI; there were 33.6% of FSW participants with self-reported STIs (95% CI: 26.0–41.3). Among PWID participants – the majority of whom were men (94.9%) – 13.0% (95% CI: 9.6–16.3) reported an abnormal discharge from the vagina, anus or penis, 9.7% (95% CI: 6.7–12.6) reported a sore or ulcer near the vagina, penis or anus, and 14.2% (95% CI: 11.0–17.4) reported being diagnosed with an STI; self-reported STI was reported by 22.0% (95% CI: 17.0–27.0) of participants.

STI self-report was higher among the KP groups compared to the general population (MSM: 11.9%, FSW: 33.5%, PWID: 22.0% vs Men: 5.0% and Women: 7.0%). The high-burden of STIs among KPs are consistent with other studies and underscores the importance of integrating STI prevention efforts in KP prevention and treatment services [21, 22]. This is especially important among FSW where a third of the FSW participants self-reported STI, thus highlighting the generalized risk of STI among this entire population group.

The results from MSM show that STI self- report was associated with receptive (vs insertive) sex, which is consistent with findings from other studies in the region [23]. Other risk factors consistent with the literature included circumcision, which may be a result of decreased perception of risk. Physical and sexual violence were also major risk factors for STI among FSW and the socio-cultural dynamics contributing to this vulnerability, such as gender power inequalities, economic disparities, and criminalization of sex work, have been explored previously [21, 24, 25].

The results suggest that having other work aside from sex work is associated with more risk, however this requires further investigation given that it is contrary to findings among FSW in Uganda where having employment outside of sex work was considered a protective factor [21].

While HIV infection was only significantly associated with STI self-report among MSM [11, 12], the similar modes of sexual transmission necessitate a need for concentrated efforts to encourage safer sexual behaviours, such as condom use. This is especially important when considering the greater odds of STI-self report among FSW reporting non-condom use with their last client and MSM reporting non-condom use with their last male partner. Given the dynamics of bridging populations - a subgroup of people who have sexual contact with both KP and the general population such as MSM married to women, clients of FSW and non-client sexual partners of FSW - non-condom use represents a potential public health risk to the wider population [2]. Access to HIV prevention services was associated with STI-self report among FSW and PWID, although this may be a result of having symptoms which put one in contact with health services.

Our findings draw attention to the intersectionality of key population groups and their risk behaviours. For example, sex work was associated with STI self-report for PWID, while illicit drug use was a risk factor among both FSW and MSM; these overlapping risk profiles were also found in other studies [22, 24]. Our results emphasize that treatment and prevention efforts are limited when only considering the primary risk behaviour of a population while isolating others. Any efforts targeted to KP must adopt a people-centred approach to address overlapping risk behaviours.

Although the sample size of female PWID in our study was too small to perform meaningful analysis (n = 25), other studies have pointed to the unique vulnerabilities of female PWID [26]. Qualitative studies among female PWID in Mozambique would provide more information about the gendered nature of risk factors in this group.

Finally, there were greater odds of self-report among FSW residing in Beira and PWID residing in Nampula/Nacala. Limited resources require the geographic prioritization of efforts based on evidence and require the standardized implementation of quality treatment and prevention services.

Since the implementation of these BBS surveys, the National HIV Program has scaled up prevention, care and treatment efforts for KPs in Mozambique. In 2016, National Guidelines were published that aimed to integrate HIV prevention and treatment services for KPs into the health sector [27]. These included the creation of standardized package of services for KPs with structural, biomedical and behavioural interventions, including STI screening, diagnosis and treatment. The guidelines commit to offering evidence-based quality services with a people-centred approach free from stigma and discrimination. The guidelines also aimed to strengthen the linkage between community and clinical services to ensure HIV testing among these hard to reach populations. The importance of STI prevention and control among KP was further outlined in the 2018–2021 National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of STIs [6]. Future BBS surveys will be able to assess the extent KPs engagement with the health system, experiences of stigma and STI self-report.

Although this is the first analysis of risk factors associated with STIs among MSM, FSW and PWID in Mozambique, there are several limitations to consider. First, the reliance of self-reported STI symptoms, rather than laboratory testing of common and treatable STIs such as syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhoea, could have potentially underestimated STI prevalence by excluding asymptomatic cases. In addition, symptoms such as, discharge, may not necessarily have been the result of an STI. Second, not all survey measures were included in the three surveys (e.g. stigma/discrimination), thus it is not possible to compare risk factors across the different population groups. Additionally, the survey is also subject to the limitations to the survey design such as social desirability, interviewer and recruitment bias. Similar to other cross-sectional surveys, it is also not possible to assess temporality. For example, it is not possible to determine if having access to health services brought PWID and FSW in contact with STI diagnosis or if perhaps having an STI symptom may have caused one to seek out services. Finally, the analysis pooled results from across the survey cities thus severing social networks and chains. As a result, these findings need to be interpreted with caution and cannot be generalized to the full MSM, FSW and PWID in the survey cities nor to KP in Mozambique. Despite the limitations, however, the results of the analysis point to the high burden of STIs among key population groups in Mozambique and provide the evidence needed to advocate for comprehensive and integrated policies and health systems approaches to improve STI screening and case management among high-risk groups in Mozambique.

The high burden of STIs in KP highlights the need for integrated HIV and STI prevention, outreach and treatment services that address the overlapping risk profiles of individuals; this is specifically relevant for harm reduction interventions targeted to PWID that must also include STI screening and promote condom use. Future survey and surveillance studies should consider including laboratory testing of STIs in order to identify and treat asymptomatic cases. Finally, a robust public health response would include the creation of a national STI surveillance system, for better screening and diagnostic procedures. Monitoring the prevalence of STIs, especially among KP, must be seen as an important element of any efforts toward HIV epidemic control.