Hepatitis B infection in a non-drug abusing prostitute population in Mexico.
The prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B infection were studied in 354 non-drug abusing female prostitutes and 360 female controls in Tijuana, Mexico. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was found in the same percentage (0.8%) of prostitutes and controls. In contrast, antibody markers (anti-HBs or anti-HBc) were found in a significantly higher percentage of prostitutes than controls (8.2% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.0006). Prostitutes also had a higher prevalence of a positive RPR/FTA-ABS test for syphilis (p less than 0.0001). There was a significant association between the presence of hepatitis B markers and positive syphilis serology and a history of having had a STD. In this non-drug abusing population, prostitution was found to be a risk factor for total hepatitis B infection but not for surface antigenemia. Further studies are indicated to determine the incidence of chronic infection in adult women following sexual transmission of hepatitis B.
Hyams
K C
KC
U.S. Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, MD.
Escamilla
J
J
Lozada Romero
R
R
Macareno Alvarado
E
E
Bonilla Giraldo
N
N
Papadimos
T J
TJ
Rubio Martinez
C
C
Garcia Gonzalez
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens