title: Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in registered female sex workers in northern Mexico.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the epidemiology of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in female sex workers (FSWs) in Mexico.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of the study was to determine the prevalence of C trachomatis infection in registered FSWs from northern Mexico and to determine the sociodemographic characteristics associated with the infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  An enzyme immunoassay was used to test 354 FSWs in three northern Mexican cities for cervical C trachomatis infection. All participants were registered in a government health office. Recruitment was consecutive and voluntary. The association between clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of FSWs and infection was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of C trachomatis infection among participants in the three cities was 12.4%. Women of low socioeconomic level and those younger than 25 years were the most frequently infected. Among FSWs in Durango, a higher frequency of C trachomatis infection was found for those who did not use condoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C trachomatis is an important pathogen in the sexually transmitted diseases of registered FSWs in northern Mexico.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Científica, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango, Mexico. alvaradocosme@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Cosme Alvarado
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Esquivel
authors.forename: Miguel Laureano
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Briones Ezcarzaga
authors.forename: Dora Elia
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Castruita Limones
authors.forename: Blanca Patricia
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Lazalde Ramos
authors.forename: Elsa Villegas
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.forename: Alfonso Arizpe
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Medrano
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castellanos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires