HIV Services for Fisherfolk in Sierra Leone: A Formative Assessment of Barriers, Opportunities, and Community Preferences

We conducted a formative assessment at two landing sites, using surveys and focus group discussions with 113 fisherfolk, including fishermen, fishmongers, fish traders, fish processors and community members, along with 17 interviews with MoH staff, fishermen union consortium, and health providers. This assessment highlights a disconnect between risk behaviors and risk perception, and a lack of access to essential HIV services. To improve uptake and outcomes, it is critical to engage fisherfolk in designing community-based, differentiated HIV service delivery strategies.

我们在两处渔港登陆点开展了一项形成性评估，通过问卷调查与焦点小组讨论，访谈了113名渔业从业者，涵盖渔民、鱼贩、鱼商、鱼类加工者及社区居民；同时对17名卫生部（Ministry of Health, MoH）工作人员、渔民工会联合会成员与医疗服务提供者进行了访谈。本次评估凸显了风险行为与风险认知之间的脱节，以及基本艾滋病毒（HIV）服务可及性不足的问题。为提升服务使用率与干预成效，推动渔业从业者参与设计以社区为基础、差异化的艾滋病毒服务供给策略，实属关键之举。