[HIV infection and other sexually-transmitted infections among immigrants in Barcelona].
BACKGROUND
Immigration is a recent phenomenon in Spain. Certain subgroups of the immigrant population may be vulnerable to acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STI).


METHODS
Descriptive study of the seroprevalenceof certain STI (HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis) and the general characteristicsn of persons tested for HIV infection in a specialized clinic in Barcelona during the year 2000.


RESULTS
Seroprevalence of HIV was similar in immigrants and native residents(1.8% vs. 1.7% respectively). However, the seroprevalences of hepatitis B virus (anti-HBc) (19.5% vs. 8.3%) and syphilis (RPR 1 TPHA) (3.2% vs. 1.1%), as well as other STI and the practice of prostitution, were higher in immigrants.


CONCLUSIONS
Several STI, including hepatitis B and syphilis, were found more frequently in immigrants than in the native population, whereas HIV seroprevalence was similar in the two groups.
Vall Mayans
Martí
M
Unidad de Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual. Direcció d'Atenció Primària Ciutat Vella, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain. mvall.pbcn@ics.scs.es
Arellano
E
E
Armengol
P
P
Escribà
J M
JM
Loureiro
E
E
Saladié
P
P
Sanz
B
B
Saravanya
M
M
Vall
M
M
Villena
M J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000208:ethnology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology