title: Syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus seroconversion during a 6-month follow-up of female prostitutes in Mogadishu, Somalia.
abstract: A total of 155 prostitutes inhabiting 4 different districts in Mogadishu, Somalia, were enrolled in a 6 month prospective study of syphilis and HIV infection. Blood samples were taken on entry, at 3 months and at 6 months. Differences were seen between the prostitutes in the 4 districts regarding possible risk factors for the acquisition of STDs. Initially 107 (69%) were found to have syphilis serum markers and 47% had active syphilis as judged by positivity in both Treponema Pallidum Haemagglutination (TPHA) test and non-treponemal (VDRL and RPR) tests. TPHA positivity was correlated to the number of sexual partners. Sixty-nine prostitutes were followed for 6 months. Two of the 16 initially TPHA negative women seroconverted for syphilis during the follow-up. HIV antibodies were detected in one (0.6%) of the 155 prostitutes at the start of the study and one out of 68 seroconverted during the 6 months follow-up. To control the spread of HIV infection health education targeting the risk groups like prostitutes must be given a high priority.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Morphology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Somali National University, Mogadishu.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Adan
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Guled
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grillner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bygdeman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D012998:Somalia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*