Prevalence and correlates of HIV infection among female sex workers in 2 Mexico-US border cities.
BACKGROUND
We examined human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence and correlates among female sex workers (FSWs) in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, 2 large cities on the Mexico-US border.


METHODS
FSWs aged > or =18 years underwent interviews and testing for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Logistic regression identified factors associated with HIV infection.


RESULTS
In 924 FSWs, the prevalence of HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis titers > or =1:8 was 6%, 6.4%, 13%, and 14.2%, respectively. Factors independently associated with HIV were the injection of cocaine (odds ratio [OR], 2.96); the smoking, snorting, or inhalation of methamphetamine (OR, 3.32); and syphilis titers > or =1:8 (OR, 4.16).


CONCLUSIONS
Culturally appropriate interventions are needed to identify and treat ulcerative sexually transmitted infections and reduce HIV risks associated with stimulants among FSWs in the Mexico-US border region.
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0680, USA. tpatterson@ucsd.edu
Semple
Shirley J
SJ
Staines
Hugo
H
Lozada
Remedios
R
Orozovich
Prisci
P
Bucardo
Jesus
J
Philbin
Morgan M
MM
Pu
Minya
M
Fraga
Miguel
M
Amaro
Hortensia
H
Torre
Adela de la
Ade L
Martinez
Gustavo
G
Magis-Rodríguez
Carlos
C
Strathdee
Steffanie A
SA
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D047568:Unsafe Sex