Community-based HIV treatment service delivery model for female sex workers in Tanzania: evaluation findings
Research in Tanzania has documented the challenges female sex workers (FSWs) face in accessing HIV care and treatment services, including out-of-pocket costs associated with care, reaching distant clinics, lack of awareness and misperceptions of treatment, and dual stigma associated with sex work and HIV.
To address these challenges, Project SOAR in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Program of the Government of Tanzania, National Institute of Medical Research, and Jhpiego’s Sauti Program, conducted an implementation science study to investigate the delivery of community-based antiretroviral treatment (ART) services to FSWs in Tanzania. Studies from sub-Saharan Africa have shown improved HIV treatment outcomes, such as uptake of HIV services, retention in care, and increased dignity and quality of life, by using community-based delivery of HIV services. The study assessed the effectiveness of the community-based ART delivery intervention in improving HIV treatment outcomes among FSWs in Tanzania.
