Three-year incidence study of retroviral and viral hepatitis transmission in a Peruvian prostitute population.
A Peruvian female prostitute population was evaluated over a 3-year period to determine the incidence and risk factors of retroviral and viral hepatitis transmission. At three survey periods, a questionnaire was administered and serum samples were obtained. A total of 966 subjects were studied, with 34% followed for 38 months, 22% followed for 18 months, and 44% evaluated just once. On initial evaluation, 3 (0.3%) had HIV-1 antibody, 170 (17.6%) had HTLV-I antibody, 578 (59.8%) had anti-HBc, and 7 (0.7%) had antibody to hepatitis C virus. The mean annual incidence of HTLV-I and hepatitis B infection was 1.6% and 4.7%, respectively. Univariate and logistic regression analysis of prevalence data indicated an association between sexual activity and HTLV-I and hepatitis B infection, but no independent risk factors were identified in cohort analysis. Parenteral risk factors were not associated with transmission, except for a small percentage of subjects who may have acquired hepatitis B infection from blood transfusions. These findings suggest that there is a high incidence of HTLV-I and hepatitis B infection from heterosexual contact in this female prostitute population.
Hyams
K C
KC
Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20852.
Phillips
I A
IA
Tejada
A
A
Wignall
F S
FS
Roberts
C R
CR
Escamilla
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies