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We conducted biobehavioral surveys among female sex workers (FSW) in Lae and Mt. Hagen, Papua New Guinea (January–December 2017). Respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit FSW aged ≥ 12 years, who were assigned female sex at birth, who spoke English or Tok Pisin, and who sold or exchanged sex for money, goods, or services in the last 6 months. When adjusted for viral suppression, 48.9% of FSW Lae and 61.9% in Mt. Hagen were aware of their HIV positive status. Of these women, 95.3% in Lae and 98.9% in Mt. Hagen were on antiretroviral therapy, and of these, 83.5% in Lae and 87.0% in Mt. Hagen had suppressed viral load. Renewed efforts are needed to increase HIV testing among FSW and provide support to FSW on treatment in both cities to attain viral suppression.

Objectives Papua New Guinea has among the highest prevalences of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) globally with no services able to accurately test for anorectal Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections. Here we prospectively evaluated the diagnostic performance of a molecular CT/NG assay used at the point-of-care (POC) with the aim of enhancing anorectal STI screening and same-day treatment. Methods Men who have sex with men, transgender women and female sex workers taking part in Papua New Guinea's first large-scale biobehavioural study were enrolled and asked to provide a self-collected anorectal swab for POC GeneXpert CT/NG testing. Same-day treatment was offered if positive. A convenience sample of 396 unique and randomly selected samples were transported to Australia for comparison using the Cobas 4800 CT/NG test (Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Pleasanton, CA, USA). Results A total of 326 samples provided valid results by Cobas whereas 70 samples provided invalid results suggesting inhibition. The positive, negative and overall percentage agreements of GeneXpert CT/NG for the detection of C. trachomatis were 96.7% (95% CI 92.3%–98.9%), 95.5% (95% CI 91.3%–98.0%) and 96.0% (95% CI 93.3%–97.8%), and for N. gonorrhoeae were 93.0% (95% CI 86.1%–97.1%), 100.0% (95% CI 98.3%–100.0%) and 97.8% (95% CI 95.6%–99.1%), respectively. Conclusions The overall rate of agreement between the GeneXpert and Cobas CT/NG assays was high with 96.0% for C. trachomatis and 97.8% for N. gonorrhoeae. Results from this study data suggest that the GeneXpert CT/NG assay is suitable for testing self-collected anorectal specimens at the POC and that same-day treatment was feasible.

BACKGROUND: Papua New Guinea has among the highest prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in the world but no estimates of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or hepatitis B virus (HBV) are available among men who have sex with men (MSM) or transgender women (TGW). METHODS: We conducted respondent-driven sampling surveys among MSM and TGW in Port Moresby, Lae, and Mt Hagen (2016–2017) to characterize the prevalence of these infections. Eligibility criteria were as follows: aged ≥12 years, born male, could speak English or Tok Pisin, and had oral or anal sex with another person born male in the past 6 months. Participants were surveyed face-to-face and offered testing for anorectal and genital chlamydia and gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and HBV. All results are respondent-driven sampling weighted. RESULTS: We enrolled 400 participants in Port Moresby, 352 in Lae, and 111 in Mt Hagen. Chlamydia prevalence rates in the 3 cities regardless of anatomical site were 19.9%, 19.2%, and 24.3%, respectively. Gonorrhea prevalence rates regardless of anatomical site were 10.3%, 9.4%, and 9.6%, respectively. Hepatitis B virus prevalence rates were 11.7%, 13.8%, and 13.6%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, syphilis was associated with having either chlamydia or gonorrhea in Port Moresby (adjusted odds ratio, 4.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.0–7.9) and Lae (adjusted odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–5.0). CONCLUSIONS: There is a large unmet need among MSM and TGW in Papua New Guinea for chlamydia and gonorrhea detection and treatment. The high prevalence of HBV reinforces the importance of ensuring introduction and scale-up of HBV treatment and immunization. Urgent efforts are needed to introduce laboratory-based diagnosis for chlamydia and gonorrhea to ensure these populations have access to much needed treatment services.

ObjectiveTo characterise the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 90-90-90 cascade among female sex workers (FSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM)/transgender women (TGW) in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).MethodsWe conducted respondent-driven sampling surveys among FSW and MSM/TGW in Port Moresby, PNG from June to October 2016. All participants spoke English or Tok Pisin and were aged >12 years. FSW had to be born female and sell/exchange sex with a male in the past 6 months. MSM/TGW had to be born male and have oral/anal sex with another male-born person in the past 6 months. Participants were interviewed and offered rapid HIV diagnostic and viral load testing. HIV viral suppression (VS) was defined as ResultsWe recruited 674 FSW and 400 MSM/TGW; HIV prevalence was 15.2% (95% CI 11.7 to 18.8) and 8.5% (95% CI 5.0 to 11.9), respectively. Among FSW living with HIV, 39.0% (95% CI 26.6 to 51.4) self-reported having been diagnosed; of them 79.6% (95% CI 62.7 to 96.5) self-reported being on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 54.1% (95% CI 31.8 to 76.4) achieved VS. Among MSM/TGW living with HIV, 24.4% (95% CI 4.7 to 44.1) self-reported having been diagnosed; of them 43.9% (95% CI 33.6 to 54.8) self-reported being on ART, and 86.1% (95% CI 71.1 to 93.9) achieved VS.ConclusionsART use among those aware of their HIV status is encouraging. However, the generally low awareness of infection status among FSW and MSM/TGW with HIV and the low VS among FSW on ART indicate an urgent need for innovative strategies to increase testing uptake and ART adherence among these populations. Monitoring drug resistance may be warranted.

Background In this paper, factors associated with HIV and syphilis infection in three cities in Papua New Guinea are explored. Methods: Respondent-driven sampling surveys among FSW in Port Moresby, Lae, and Mt. Hagen (2016–17) were conducted. FSW who were aged ≥12 years, who were born female, who spoke English or Tok Pisin and who had sold or exchanged vaginal sex in the past 6 months were eligible to participate. Participants were interviewed face-to-face and offered rapid HIV and syphilis testing. Survey logistic procedures were used to identify factors associated with HIV and syphilis infection, including modern contraception use, physical violence and having a casual male partner. Weighted data analysis was conducted. Results: Overall, 2901 FSW (Port Moresby, 673; Lae, 709; and Mt. Hagen, 709) were enrolled in the study. HIV prevalence was 15.2% in Port Moresby, 11.9% in Lae and 19.6% in Mt. Hagen. Factors associated with HIV varied by city; for example, use of modern contraception in Port Moresby, experiences of physical violence in Lae and ever having tested for HIV in Mt. Hagen. No one variable was associated with HIV in all cities. Prevalence of syphilis infection was 7.1%, 7.0%, and 3.0% in Port Moresby, Lae, and Mt. Hagen, respectively. Factors associated with syphilis infection also varied by city and were only significant in Lae. Conclusion: The different factors associated with HIV and syphilis infection in each city highlight the complex HIV and syphilis epidemics among FSW and the importance of conducting surveys in multiple locations and developing local interventions.