Abstract
To estimate the prevalence of HIV-1, HIV-2 and HTLV-I among female prostitutes, and to identify possible risk factors for HIV transmission in this collective, sera and epidemiological information from 71 prostitutes were obtained. Using the local network of a well-defined area in southern Catalonia, all prostitution bars were identified and their working women interviewed using a previously validated questionnaire. Eight sera were found positive for HIV-1 antibodies. Of those, 7 sera were also positive in the HIV-2 assay, probably as a result of cross-reactivity between the two viruses. All sera were negative for HTLV-I antibodies. In our area, where intravenous drug users (IVDUs) account for the majority of AIDS cases, the use of drugs by the prostitutes or by their steady sexual partners seems to be the most important risk factor for HIV infection in that group.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
BelecL., GeorgesA.J., SteenmanG. and MartinP.M. (1989): Antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus in vaginal secretions of heterosexual women - J. Infect. Dis. 160: 385–391.
ButtòS., IreraniP., TittiF., RezzaG., SernicolaL. and RossiG.B. (1988): Simultaneous seropositivity to HIV-1 and HIV-2 in Italian drug abusers - AIDS 2:139–140.
CasabonaJ. (1988): Aspectos epidemiológicos de la transmissión del VIH - Rev. Clin. Esp. 183:313–317.
CasabonaJ., SalasT. and SeguraA. (1989): Evolución de la epidemia de SIDA en Cataluña: análisis descriptivo del registro de casos - Med. Clin. (Barc.) 92: 441–446.
CDC (1987): Antibody to human immunodeficiency virus in female prostitutes - MMWR 36: 157–160.
Day S., Ward H. and Harris J.R.W. (1988): HIV and London prostitutes. IV International Conference on AIDS. Stockholm, June - abstract 4052.
DonderoT.J., PappaioanouM. and CurranJ. W. (1988): Monitoring the levels and trends of HIV infection: the Public Health Service's HIV Surveillance Program -Public Health Rep. 103: 213–219.
European Study Group (1989): Risk factors from male to female transmission of HIV - Br. Med. J. 298: 411–415.
GradiloneA., ZaniM., BarillariG. et al. (1986): HTLV-1 and HIV infection in drug addicts in Italy -Lancet ii: 753–754.
GreenblattR.M., LukehartS.L., PlummerF.A. et al. (1988): Genital ulceration as a risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus infection - AIDS 2: 47–50.
Khabbaz R.F., Darrow W.W., Lairmore M. et al. (1988): Prevalence of antibody to HTLV-I among 1415 female prostitutes in the United States. IV International Conference on AIDS. Stockholm, June -abstract 4042.
KhabbazR.F., DarrowW.W., HartleyT.M. et al. (1990): Seroprevalence and risk factors for HTLV-I/11 infection among female prostitutes in the United States - JAMA 263: 60–64.
KleinbaumD.G. and KupperL.L. (1985): Applied regression analysis and other multivariable methods -Boston: Duxbury Press.
KreissJ.K., CoombsR., PlummerF. et al. (1989): Isolation of human immunodeficiency virus from genital ulcers in Nairobi prostitutes - J. Infect. Dis. 160: 380–384.
Latorre X., Gatell J.M., Pumarola T. et al. (1986): Prevalencia de anticuerpos frente al HTLV-III/LAV en subpoblaciones con riesgo de padecer un síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida - Med. Clin. (Barc.) 86: 113–114.
MelbyeM., IngerslevJ., BiggarR.J. et al. (1985): Anal intercourse as a possible factor in heterosexual transmission of HTLV-III to spouses of hemophiliacs -N. Engl. J. Med. 312: 857.
MerinoF., EsparzaB. and AizpiriJ. (1989): Ausencia de infection por HTLV-1 en drogadictos de Vizcaya -Med. Clin. (Barc.) 92: 79.
MugaR., TorJ., SorianoV. et al. (1988): Antigeno y anticuerpos del virus de la immunodeficiencia humana en adictos a drogas por vía parenteral: correlación con el estadio clinico - Med. Clin. (Barc.) 91: 286–288.
MurphyE.L., FigueroaJ.P., GibbsW.N. et al. (1989): Sexual transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1) - Ann. Intern. Med. 111: 555–560.
Nolla SalasJ., TornéJ., ChanovasM.R. and DrobnicL. (1987): La prostitución como grupo de riesgo de síndrome de immunodeficiencia adquirida - Med. Clin. (Barc.) 88: 81.
PadianN., MarquisL., FrancisD.P. et al. (1987): Male-to-female transmission of human immunodeficiency virus - JAMA 258: 788–790.
PadianN.S. (1988): Prostitute women and AIDS: epidemiology - AIDS 2: 413–419.
Pineda J.A., Lea M., Garcia de Pasquera F. et al. Prevalencia de anti LAV/HTLV-III en prostitutas de Sevilla - Med. Clin. (Barc.) 86: 498–500.
Plummer EA., Cameron W., Simonsen N. et al. (1988): Cofactors in male-female transmission of HIV. IV International Conference on AIDS. Stockholm, June -abstract 4554.
RemingtonR.D. and SchorkM.H. (1985): Statistics with applications to the biological and health sciences - Englewooddiffs: Prentice-Hall Inc.
Robert-GuroffM., WeissS.H., GironJ.A. et al. (1986): Prevalence of antibodies to HTLV-I, -11, and -III in intravenous drug abusers from an AIDS endemic region - JAMA 255: 3133–3137.
RosenbergM.J. and WeinerJ.M. (1988): Prostitutes and AIDS: a health department priority? - Am. J. Public Health 78: 418–423.
SorianoV., TorJ., RiberaA. et al. (1989): HIV-1, HIV-2 and HTLV-1 infection in high-risk groups in Spain -AIDS 3: 615–616.
SorianoV, TorJ., MugaJ.L. et al. (1989): Infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana tipo 2 en africanos occidentales residentes en Catalunya -Med. Clin. (Barc.) 92: 161–163.
SorianoV., TorJ., RiberaA. et al. (1990): Evidencia de infectión por el HTLV-I en diferentes colectivos de riesgo de Barcelona - Med. Clin. (Barc.) 94: 5–8.
TittiF., RezzaG., VeraniP. et al. (1988): HIV, HTLV-I and HBV infections in a cohort of Italian intravenous drug users: analysis of risk factors - J. AIDS 1: 405–411.
TorJ., MugaR., ArgelaguésE. et al. (1986): HTLV-III antibody in intravenous drug abusers of the Barcelona Metropolitan area - Arch. Intern. Med. 146: 805.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Casabona, J., SÁnchez, E., Salinas, R. et al. Seroprevalence and risk factors for HIV transmission among female prostitutes: A community survey. Eur J Epidemiol 6, 248–252 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00150427
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00150427