Table 1 Characteristics of selected studies

[28] Aho et al. (2012)

Guinea

To describe the acceptability and consequences of VCT among a stigmatized and vulnerable group, female sex workers (FSWs), in Conakry, Guinea

Cross-sectional study

Randomly selected 421 at FSW at baseline and 223 at end line. Recruited through

private or public centers providing adapted healthcare services (AHS) for FSWs

[29] Chanda et al. (2017)

Zambia

To evaluate the effect of 2 different health system mechanisms (the active approach of peer-based HIV self-test) for HIV self-test delivery compared to referral to standard HIV testing

A 3-arm 1:1:1 cluster randomized trial

Total randomized per arm (320,316 and 329). Peer educator recruitment of social network via direct contact and referral

[30] Cowan et al. (2019)

Zimbabwe

(i) To present the current impact that engagement in the Sisters program has on HIV incidence, prevalence, and control in FSW. (ii) To describe the patterns and characteristics of sex work among FSW in Zimbabwe

(iii) To assess the potential for wider population impact of sex worker program by modelling the impact on HIV incidence of eliminating transmission through FSW

Cross-sectional study

Use of program data of 5083 FSW recruited through respondent-driven sampling surveys through three studies conducted in 19 sites: in 2011 to 2015; 2013 to 2016 and 2017

[31] Cowan et al. (2017)

Zimbabwe

To describe the HIV diagnosis and care cascade among FSW in Zimbabwe.

Cross-sectional study

Respondent-driven sampling surveys of FSW in 14 sites. Recruited 2722 women, approximately 200 per site as the baseline for a cluster-randomized controlled trial investigating a combination HIV prevention and care package.

[32] Cowan et al. (2018)

Zimbabwe

To assess the efficacy of a targeted combination intervention for female sex workers in Zimbabwe.

Cluster-randomized trial from 2014 to 2016

Randomly assigned 14 clusters (1:1) to receive usual care cluster (n = 3612) and an intervention cluster (n = 4619)

[33] Huet et al. (2011)

Burkina Faso

To describe the long-term virological, immunological, and mortality outcomes of providing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with strong adherence support to HIV-infected female sex workers (FSWs) in Burkina Faso and contrast outcomes with those obtained in a cohort of regular HIV-infected women.

A prospective observational study nested within the Yerelon open cohort of high-risk women

47 FSWs and 48 non-FSWs recruited through a network of peer educators and followed up at a dedicated clinic located within a public health facility.

[34] Kelvin et al. (2019)

Kenya

To assess whether informing female sex workers about the availability of HIV self-testing at clinics in Kenya using text messages would increase HIV testing rates

Cohort study

A sample of 2196 female sex workers selected from electronic records.

[35] Kerrigan et al. (2019)

Tanzania

To determine the impact of a community empowerment model of combination HIV prevention (Project Shikamana) among female sex workers (FSW) in Iringa, Tanzania.

A prospective community-randomized trial conducted in 2 communities matched on population size

Identified all active sex work venues (164 in total) in the 2 study communities and enrolled 496 FSW through a time-location sampling

[36] Lafort et al. (2018)

South Africa, Mozambique, and Kenya

To enhance uptake of SRH services by FSWs through an implementation study

Cross-sectional study (in the context of an implementation research project)

400 FSWs recruited by respondent-driven sampling

[37] Lillie et al. (2019)

Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, and DRC

To identify KP that had a new HIV diagnosis so that they could be linked to life-saving treatment for epidemic control

Quasi-experimental study

929 FSWs sampled. Selection was done through distribution of coupons by peer

[38] Lafort et al. (2016)

South Africa, Mozambique, and Kenya

To identify gaps in the use of HIV prevention and care services and commodities for female sex workers with the aim of improving SRH services.

Cross-sectional survey (in the context of an implementation research project)

Used RDS to recruit 400 sex worker in Durban, 308 in Tete, 400 in Mombasa, and 458 in Mysor

[39] Luchters et al. (2008)

Kenya

To evaluate the impact of 5 years of peer-mediated STI/HIV prevention interventions among FSW in Mombasa, Kenya

Pre- and post- intervention cross-sectional surveys

Initial respondents (seeds) were identified from FSW work places, with subsequent participants recruited using snowball sampling.

[40] Napierala et al. (2018)

Zimbabwe

(1) To compare engagement in services and the HIV care cascade among FSWs aged 18–24 years compared with those aged 25 years and older.

(2) To explore factors associated with young FSWs’ engagement in HIV services.

Cross-sectional survey

Sampled 2722 FSW through respondent-driven sampling from 14 communities

[41] Ndori-mharadze et al. (2018)

Zimbabwe

To compare key indicators related to FSW health-seeking behavior in 2011 and 2015 in three sites and explore whether observed differences might be linked to the delivery of intensified community mobilization.

Cross-sectional study

870 FSW sampled in 2011 and 915 in 2015. FSWs were selected as seeds of the 2015 RDS survey, and also reviewed program data from the Sisters’ clinics between 2010 and 2015.

[42] Pande et al. (2019)

Uganda

To assess preference and uptake of the current community-based HIV testing service delivery models that are used to reach FSW and identify challenges faced during the implementation of the models.

Cross-sectional study design

Used cluster sampling for hotspot selection and recruited 72 FSWs in each cluster

[43] Schwartz et al. (2017)

South Africa

To assess engagement in the HIV care cascade and correlates of ART use among a sample of South African FSWs.

Cross-sectional study

Selection was done through RDS by selecting seeds to represent FSWs across ages, race, and locations

[44] Tun et al. (2019)

Tanzania

To examine differences in treatment outcomes between the intervention and comparison arms.

Quasi-experimental prospective cohort study

309 (intervention) and 308 (comparison) sampled at baseline. FSW selected randomly through community-based HTC in hotspots, directly contacting former Sauti FSWs and use of brochures

[45] Vu et al. (2020)

Tanzania

To increase linkage to and retention in antiretroviral therapy (ART) care, by piloting a community based, ART service delivery intervention for female sex workers

Quasi-experimental prospective cohort study

309 (intervention) and 308 (comparison) followed from baseline. FSW selected randomly through; community-based HTC in hotspots, directly contacting former Sauti FSWs and use of brochures