Sexual practices and prevalence of HIV, HTLV-I/II, and Treponema pallidum among clandestine female sex workers in Lima, Peru.
OBJECTIVE
A survey was conducted to determine the sexual behavior practices and prevalence of HIV-1, HTLV-I/II, and T. pallidum infections among unlicensed female sex workers (FSWs) in Lima, Peru.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of unlicensed FSWs as a potential source of retroviral and T. pallidum infection.


METHODS
Female sex workers from 15 brothels were enrolled. Sera samples were obtained and tested for antibodies to HIV-1, HTLV-I, and Treponema pallidum.


RESULTS
Of 158 FSWs studied, all were negative for HIV-1, 6 were positive for HTLV-I, and 5 were positive for Treponema pallidum. Of their male clients, 75% used condoms, whereas only 3% reported condom use with their steady partners. When condoms were always used by clients, the history of a sexually transmitted disease was significantly reduced (p < 0.01), and the prevalence of HTLV-I (p < 0.05) and syphilis was lower among these workers.


CONCLUSIONS
Data suggested that the low rate of sexually transmitted diseases among FSWs reflected the high rate of condom use by their male clients.
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Alexander von Humboldt Universidad Peruana Cayetano, Heredia, Lima, Peru.
L
L
Trujillo
D
D
Muñoz
E
E
Gotuzzo
A
A
Yi
D M
DM
Watts
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies