Sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Yunnan, China.
A cross-sectional prevalence survey of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was conducted among female sex workers (FSWs) in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. A total of 505 FSWs participated in the survey. All eligible participants gave informed consent. Demographic, behavioral, and clinical information of the participants was gathered by direct structured interviews. Tampon swabs were collected to test for Chlamydia trachomatis, Nesseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis and serum specimens were collected to test for HIV antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening and Western blot confirmation, syphilis with rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and T. pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) confirmation, and for HSV-2 antibodies with the HerpeSelect 2 ELISA. The most prevalent bacterial STI was Chlamydia trachomatis (58.6%), followed by Trichomonas vaginalis (43.2%) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (37.8%). Three hundred twenty-seven (65.1%) sex workers had serologic evidence of exposure to HSV-2 infection. Ten percent were positive for HIV infection, all injecting drug users (IDUs); and 9.5% had infection with syphilis. Comprehensive prevention and effective STI services for sex workers and their clients will be the key strategies to the control of STIs, including HIV. Policies and prevention strategies for STI/HIV need to focus on high-risk subpopulations, such as sex workers (particularly sex workers who inject drugs) and their clients.
Chen
Xiang-Sheng
XS
National Center for STD and Leprosy Control, 12 Jiangwangmiao Street, Nanjing 210-042, China. chenxs@vip.163.com
Yin
Yue-Ping
YP
Liang
Guo-Jun
GJ
Gong
Xiang-Dong
XD
Li
Hua-Sheng
HS
Poumerol
Gilles
G
Thuy
Nguyen
N
Shi
Mei-Qin
MQ
Yu
Yan-Hua
YH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000914:Antibodies, Viral