title: Prevalence of HIV infection and risk behaviour among street prostitutes in Rome, 1997-1998.
abstract: A cross-sectional survey was carried out between April 1997 and February 1998 among street prostitutes in Rome. The study population (n = 142) consisted of 102 women and 40 transsexuals: 20% from Western Europe, 38% Eastern Europe, 23% Latin America and 17% Africa. Two-thirds of the population had more than 20 clients during the last week and most respondents (95%) reported always using condoms with clients. Eight per cent of the women and 2% of the transsexuals report a history of injecting drug use. Only 38% of the women with a stable partner reported use of contraceptives and 33% of them had undergone a voluntary abortion during the last year. Only 38% of the women had been checked for STDs during the last year, compared with 80% of the transsexuals. The HIV-prevalence was 6% among the women and 20% among the transsexuals. Four out of the six positive women and one of the positive transsexuals had a history of injecting drug use. Five out of the six HIV-positive women were Italian. Transsexual prostitutes seem to pay more attention to their medical wellbeing compared with females who rarely go for medical check-ups and only a minority uses efficient contraceptive methods.
authors.affiliation: Osservatorio Epidemiologico Regione Lazio, Rome, Italy. annette.verster@flashnet.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verster
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davoli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camposeragna
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valeri
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Perucci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D011477:Sex Work / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000453:epidemiology