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PREVALENCE OF HIV AND OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AMONG FEMALE COMMERCIAL SEX WORKERS IN ARGENTINA

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have shown to enhance the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to be more common among female commercial sex workers (FSWs). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 625 FSWs in six cities of Argentina in 2000–2002. The seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I/II, and syphilis was 3.2%, 14.4%, 4.3%, 1.6%, and 45.7%, respectively. Syphilis was associated with older age ( 30 years, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.6 to 4.9), 10 years in sex work (AOR = 2.2), use of illegal drugs (AOR = 2.1), and a prior history of an STI (AOR = 3.0). HBV and syphilis was the most common co-infection in 44 (7.5%) subjects. FSWs in Argentina are exposed to HIV and other STIs due to high-risk sexual and illegal drug use behavior. Renewed efforts are necessary to intervene effectively in this high-risk population.

Received October 4, 2004. Accepted for publication March 10, 2005.

Acknowledgments: The authors want to thank Wiener Laboratory Argentina for the supply of the reagents used for HBV, HCV, and syphilis diagnosis. In addition, we would like to thank Dr. Jean K. Carr at the U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Rockville, Maryland, for her advice and critical review of this manuscript and assistance with its preparation, and Sebastian A. for his technical support.

Financial support: This work was supported by the U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Rockville, Maryland, and by the U.S. Naval Medical Research Command, Silver Spring, Maryland, Work Unit No. 62787 A 873 H B0002.

Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions made by the authors do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinion of the Argentinian Ministry of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense health officials, and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc.

^* Address correspondence to María M. Avila, Centro Nacional de Referencia para el SIDA, Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, Piso 11, C1121ABG, Buesnos Aires, Argentina. E-mail: mavila{at}fmed.uba.ar

Authors’ addresses: María A. Pando, Carolina Berini, Mariel Bibini, Mirna Biglione, Mercedes Weissenbacher, and María M. Avila, Centro Nacional de Referencia para el SIDA, Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, Piso 11, C1121ABG, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Telephone: 54-11-4508-3689/3671, Fax: 54-11-4508-3705, E-mail: mpando{at}fmed.uba.ar and mavila{at}fmed.uba.ar. Mauro Fernández, Laboratorio de Hemoterapia, Hospital de Clínicas "Jose de San Martín," Av. Córdoba 2351, Piso 3, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Telephone: 54-11-5950-8772, Fax: 54-11-5950-8769. Elena Reinaga, Organización AMMAR, Av. Independencia 766, CP 1099, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Telephone: 54-11-4307-3829. Sergio Maulen and Rubén Marone, NEXO Asociación Civil, Callao 339, Piso 5, CP 1022, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Telephone: 54-11-4375-0359. Silvia M. Montano, U.S. Naval Medical Research Center Detachment-Lima, Peru, Unit 3800, APO-AA 34031-3800, Telephone: 51-1-561-2733, Fax: 51-1-561-3042. Christian T. Bautista and José L. Sanchez, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc, Rockville, Maryland, 1 Taft Court, Suite 250, Rockville, MD 20850, Telephone: 301-251-5000, Fax: 301-294-1898.

Reprint requests: María M. Avila, Ph.D., Centro Nacional de Referencia para el SIDA, Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, Piso 11, C1121ABG, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Telephone: 54-11-4508-3689/3671, Fax: 54-11-4508-3705, E-mail: mavila{at}fmed.uba.ar.

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