Why truck drivers spread COVID-19

Sex workers and truckers

There has also been a focus on the hotspots of Long Distance Truck Drivers. A hotspot is defined as an area along the transport corridor that is frequented by truckers and sex workers and which is usually characterised by high levels of commercial sex.

Hotspots are typically trading centres along transport corridors where truckers park for the night; a typical hotspot can have more than 100 trucks parked at night.

An earlier study titled `Sexual risk behaviours, condom use and sexually transmitted infection treatment-seeking behaviours among female sex workers and truck drivers in Uganda” was conducted at 12 hotspots along two major transport corridors in Uganda (the northern corridor (Busia/Malaba–Katuna) and Kampala –Bibia).

Seven hotspots were surveyed on the northern corridor (Busia, Malaba, Lugazi, Lukaya, Lyantonde, Ruti and Katuna) and five hotspots on Kampala–Bibia route (Arua Park, Bweyale, Karuma, Gulu and Bibia).

The study found that on average, sex workers had 28 partners in 30 days while truckers reported an average of seven partners. UP to 94% of sex workers and 87% of truckers reported condom use in the past month; however, only 21% of truckers and 45% of sex workers reported using condoms consistently during that time.

More than half of truckers reported that they suffered from STIs in the past year, and 93% of sex workers and 92.9% of truckers sought treatment for STIs in the past year. Of these, 78% of truckers and 86% of sex workers sought treatment at least three days following recognition of symptoms. These findings suggest that sex workers and truckers engage in high-risk sexual behaviours characterised by multiple sexual partnerships, low consistent condom use and delayed treatment-seeking behaviours.

Other earlier studies on HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) prevalence among long-distance truck drivers from East and Central Africa have shown that prostitutes, truck drivers and other highly mobile populations, characteristically have multiple sex partners.

One study done in Kenya found that 18% of 331 truck drivers who participated tested positive for HIV. Additionally, 4.6% tested positive for syphilis, and 4.5% and 4.3% suffered from urethral discharge. The study found no difference in the HIV prevalence rate between married and single men.

Older drivers were more likely to be infected with HIV than younger drivers, with the age group of 40-49 having the highest prevalence rate. The participants’ ages ranged from 18-61 years, with a mean age of 31 years. Researchers suspect that this is due to the fact that older drivers have been exposed longer and have more money with which to purchase sex. The report concluded that truck drivers constitute a high risk group, and should be targeted accordingly.

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