Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37658320›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2023

Dyspareunia, signs of epithelial disruption, sexual abstinence, and HIV status in female sex workers in Nairobi: a cross-sectional study.

Bastian Fischer, Walter Jaoko, Elvis Kirui, Bernard Muture, Isaac Madegwa, Lisbeth Kageni

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Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed, 0 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Bastian FischerDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hubertusburg Hospital Wermsdorf, Husarenpark 5, 04860, Torgau, Germany. bastian.fischer@kh-hubertusburg.de.
Walter JaokoKAVI-Institute of Clinical Research College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, 3rd Floor Wing B, P.O. Box 19676 - 00202, Nairobi, Kenya.
Elvis KiruiIndependent scholar, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Bernard MutureIndependent scholar, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Isaac MadegwaKAVI-Institute of Clinical Research College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, 3rd Floor Wing B, P.O. Box 19676 - 00202, Nairobi, Kenya.
Lisbeth KageniKAVI-Institute of Clinical Research College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, 3rd Floor Wing B, P.O. Box 19676 - 00202, Nairobi, Kenya.
University of Nairobi · KEFilm Independent · USFachkrankenhaus Hubertusburg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEpithelial trauma is a risk factor of HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSWs). Painful intercourse may be indicative of epithelial tissue disruption. Previous studies on a cohort of Kenyan FSWs established an association between prolonged sexual abstinence and late HIV seroconversion. Our research objective was to establish whether there is a relationship between HIV serostatus and signs of epithelial disruption and between HIV serostatus and sexual abstinence behaviour.

methodsParticipants were selected from a Nairobi health facility. A structured questionnaire was administered to 322 FSWs, who provided data on HIV status, sexual behaviour, abstinence intervals and the level of sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction scores were created using parts of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-19). Additional questions addressed epithelial trauma signs. Descriptive data analysis, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to describe the study population and determine factors associated with living with HIV. Potential factors influencing sexual dysfunction were assessed by FSWs via self-rating.

results36% of FSWs reported discomfort or pain during vaginal penetration half the time. 44% noticed genital bleeding half the time. Vaginal tenderness was experienced by 70.6% half the time during or after intercourse. Variables predictive of living with HIV on multivariate analysis included a medium and high score of discomfort or pain during and following vaginal penetration (medium: AOR 2.288, p-value 0.032, 95% CI 1.075-4.871; high: AOR 3.044, p-value 0.031, 95% CI 1.110-8.348). No significant association of HIV status with past abstinence durations as reported by participants could be established in the multivariate analysis. A majority of FSWs agreed that steady partnerships (81% agreement), regularity of intercourse (74%), foreplay (72%) and lubricants (65%) alleviated dyspareunia.

conclusionsRecurrent exposure to blood during sex was highly prevalent in FSWs, as was sexual dysfunction. Complaint levels were associated with living with HIV, providing evidence that reducing sexual dysfunctions may prevent HIV transmission. Preventive initiatives may be created that address sexual dysfunction in key populations and general populations with a high HIV prevalence. Subjective assessments indicate that prevention may include the promotion of sexual intercourse regularity, foreplay, and lubricant use.

Indexed as

DyspareuniaHIV InfectionsSexual and Gender MinoritiesSex WorkersCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHomosexuality, MaleHumansKenyaMaleSexual AbstinenceAnodyspareuniaCoital bleedingDyspareuniaFemale sex workers (FSWs)HIV infection riskHIV key populationsMen who have sex with men (MSM)Sexual dysfunction

Identifiers

PMID37658320
PMCPMC10472738
OpenAlexW4386373682

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.