A striking epidemiological disparity emerges from the latest comprehensive meta-analysis: female sex workers in sub-Saharan Africa face 11.5% urogenital gonorrhea prevalence—more than three times the 3.2% rate observed in the general population. This statistic, drawn from analysis of 1,604 prevalence measures across 61 years of research, exemplifies profound health equity gaps and vulnerability within key populations.
The elevated burden among sex workers reflects intersecting challenges: limited healthcare access, social stigma, irregular screening practices, and occupational risk factors that amplify transmission. Simultaneously, rising antimicrobial resistance threatens the efficacy of available treatments, leaving this already marginalized population facing compounded vulnerability. These findings underscore an urgent imperative for targeted public health interventions, including improved access to testing and treatment, antimicrobial stewardship programs, and structural support addressing drivers of infection in high-burden populations.
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