Conference abstract
Overview of pregnancy intention and factors associated with pregnancies occurring in sex workers in Cameroon
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2024:23(15).26
Nov 2024.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2024.23.15.2783
Archived on: 26 Nov 2024
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Gestation, pregnancy intention, reproductive health, female sex workers, Cameroon
Oral presentation
Overview of pregnancy intention and factors associated with pregnancies occurring in sex workers in Cameroon
Jean Pierre Yves Awono Noah1,2,&, Ndié J2, Muluh C3, Kana Dongmo R2, Ateba Ndongo F2, Naah Tabala F2, Anoubissi JD4, Guengang Tedongmo M5, Bonyohe M2, Metambou J4, Ndjatte Heuya Y6, Zeh Akiy Z7, Kuoh Ebongue I8, Keugoung B9, Jerome Ateudjieu2, Zoung-Kanyi Bissek AC2
1Association Media Convergence, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2Division of Operational Research in Health, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 3UNICEF, Cameroun, 4Central Technical Group of National Aids Control Committee, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 5CDC, Cameroon, 6Department of Disease Control, Epidemics and Pandemics, Cameroon, 7USAID, Cameroon, 8PEPFAR, Cameroon, 9UNICEF, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: in West Africa, pregnancies are prevalent among female sex workers (FSWs). A more comprehensive understanding of FSWs' pregnancy intention and their influence on pregnancy occurrence could help in preventing unintended pregnancies and adverse results.This study aims to investigate pregnancy intention, and factors associated with pregnancy occurrence among FSWs in Cameroon.
Methods: data from two Cameroonian cross-sectional surveys among FSWs aged 18 to up (acceptability of PrEP, n=236; satisfaction of PrEP, n=248) were merged. FSWs were recruited via voluntary sampling in 14 community-based organizations in five towns in Cameroon during July 2023. The National Ethics Committee of Human Health Research approved the studies. We used SPSS 27 a binary logistic regression with backward Wald’s method to identify pregnancy-related factors.
Results: FSWs (N=481) were 18 to 49, the median age was 24 years, with 32.6% reporting pregnancy intention, and 21% reporting at least one pregnancy in the previous twelve months of sex work practice. Most pregnancies (54/101) ended with a birth (53.5%), with 51.1% (24/47) of unborn (47/101) pregnancies due to miscarriage and 48.9% (23/47) to termination of pregnancy (TOP). Factors such as affiliation with female sex worker’s association (aOR=1.89, 95%CI (1.14, 3.11)), younger age (aOR=2.05, 95%CI (1.19, 3.50)), pregnancy intention (aOR=7.59, 95%CI (4.53, 12.72)), and use of modern contraceptives (aOR=2.19, 95%CI (1.27, 3.76)) were positively associated with pregnancy.
Conclusion: the formal integration of reproductive health services into community programs for the prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections addresses both the social barriers to accessing these services and the use of contraceptives. Consequently, this integration helps to reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancies.
Overview of pregnancy intention and factors associated with pregnancies occurring in sex workers in Cameroon
Jean Pierre Yves Awono Noah1,2,&, Ndié J2, Muluh C3, Kana Dongmo R2, Ateba Ndongo F2, Naah Tabala F2, Anoubissi JD4, Guengang Tedongmo M5, Bonyohe M2, Metambou J4, Ndjatte Heuya Y6, Zeh Akiy Z7, Kuoh Ebongue I8, Keugoung B9, Jerome Ateudjieu2, Zoung-Kanyi Bissek AC2
1Association Media Convergence, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2Division of Operational Research in Health, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 3UNICEF, Cameroun, 4Central Technical Group of National Aids Control Committee, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 5CDC, Cameroon, 6Department of Disease Control, Epidemics and Pandemics, Cameroon, 7USAID, Cameroon, 8PEPFAR, Cameroon, 9UNICEF, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: in West Africa, pregnancies are prevalent among female sex workers (FSWs). A more comprehensive understanding of FSWs' pregnancy intention and their influence on pregnancy occurrence could help in preventing unintended pregnancies and adverse results.This study aims to investigate pregnancy intention, and factors associated with pregnancy occurrence among FSWs in Cameroon.
Methods: data from two Cameroonian cross-sectional surveys among FSWs aged 18 to up (acceptability of PrEP, n=236; satisfaction of PrEP, n=248) were merged. FSWs were recruited via voluntary sampling in 14 community-based organizations in five towns in Cameroon during July 2023. The National Ethics Committee of Human Health Research approved the studies. We used SPSS 27 a binary logistic regression with backward Wald’s method to identify pregnancy-related factors.
Results: FSWs (N=481) were 18 to 49, the median age was 24 years, with 32.6% reporting pregnancy intention, and 21% reporting at least one pregnancy in the previous twelve months of sex work practice. Most pregnancies (54/101) ended with a birth (53.5%), with 51.1% (24/47) of unborn (47/101) pregnancies due to miscarriage and 48.9% (23/47) to termination of pregnancy (TOP). Factors such as affiliation with female sex worker’s association (aOR=1.89, 95%CI (1.14, 3.11)), younger age (aOR=2.05, 95%CI (1.19, 3.50)), pregnancy intention (aOR=7.59, 95%CI (4.53, 12.72)), and use of modern contraceptives (aOR=2.19, 95%CI (1.27, 3.76)) were positively associated with pregnancy.
Conclusion: the formal integration of reproductive health services into community programs for the prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections addresses both the social barriers to accessing these services and the use of contraceptives. Consequently, this integration helps to reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancies.
