The Ministry of Health and Social Protection is launching a study on the clients of sex workers in Morocco as part of HIV prevention. These customers, who are estimated at 450,000, remain difficult to access, which limits the effectiveness of preventive interventions. The details.
The Directorate of Epidemiology and Disease Control, with support from the Global Fund and UNAIDS, is launching a study on the clients of sex workers in Morocco. This study aims to better understand the risk behaviors, knowledge and perceptions of clients of sex workers regarding HIV prevention, in order to guide the development of more effective and adapted intervention strategies. Recommendations will be made to improve prevention interventions targeting clients of sex workers. In Morocco, HIV prevalence is relatively low among the general population with a rate of 0.08%. That said, there is a high concentration among key populations, namely sex workers (SW), homosexuals, people who inject drugs (PID), and, to a lesser extent, clients of prostitutes. According to data from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the prevalence of HIV among prostitutes is 2.2%. According to the latest estimates of the size of key populations, the number of clients of prostitutes is estimated at 450,000 people. These clients play an important role in the dynamics of the epidemic, as they constitute a potential bridge of HIV and STI transmission between key populations and the general population. PS clients remain difficult to access, which limits the effectiveness of preventive interventions. A qualitative study carried out in 2015 in Morocco revealed the need to develop a prevention action plan specific to clients of prostitutes. According to RDS studies carried out in 2011, 2016, 2019 and 2022, approximately 89% of prostitutes’ clients during the last six months were of Moroccan nationality: 12% in Agadir, 22% in Casablanca, 12% in Rabat, 10% in Fez and 13% in Marrakech, 24% in Safi and 16% in Tangier. Depending on the sites studied, 22% to 66% of these customers were married, and 28% to 57% were regular customers. 32% of sex workers found their clients in public places, 30% by telephone and 32% on the street. 10% to 30% of prostitutes did not use social networks to find their clients. The integrated National Strategic Plan (PSN) to combat AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections 2024-2030 aims to accelerate the response for universal access to prevention, treatment, care and services. HIV support with a view to ending the AIDS epidemic in 2030. The PSN emphasizes universal access to prevention, testing and treatment services, particularly for key and vulnerable populations including PS clients. Despite the dynamism of civil society in Morocco, a persistent challenge in the national response remains access and awareness of prostitutes’ clients, a population difficult to reach due to stigma and social norms.
Morocco
