High prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among young Peruvians who have sexual intercourse with foreign travelers in Cuzco.
BACKGROUND
Sexual networking in popular tourist destinations is a problem worldwide. In Peru, locals sexually interacting with travelers bridge high-risk groups, the general population, and travelers.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Cuzco about sexual behavior among young Peruvians who admitted having sex with travelers. A subgroup of the participants had serologic testing for Chlamydia trachomatis, Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2, and Treponema pallidum.


RESULTS
Eighty-eight subjects volunteered for blood sampling. Their mean age was 22.9 years (+/-4.1) and 53.4% were male. The majority were single (86.2%), but 12.6% had a stable relationship. The median number of sexual partners in the 3 months prior to the study was 2 [interquartile range (IQR): 1-4]. During that period, 43.1% reported foreign partners, 28.4% reported foreign and Peruvian partners, 17% reported Peruvian partners, and the remaining 11.5% reported combinations of Peruvian, foreign, and sex workers partners. The median number of foreign partners in the 12-month period prior to the study was 4 (IQR: 2-8). Only 25.3% reported consistent condom use. Alcohol (69%) and drugs (36.8%) were commonly used before sexual activity. Seventy-eight percent tested positive for HSV type 2, 25% for C trachomatis, and 1.1% for T pallidum.


CONCLUSIONS
The core group of young Peruvians we report on demonstrated a high-risk sexual behavior and a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. Our results underscore the need for education on safer sex practices among this group and among travelers.
Infectious Diseases Fellowship Training Program, Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. micabada@utmb.edu
Miguel M
MM
Cabada
Juan I
JI
Echevarria
Carlos
C
Seas
Eduardo
E
Gotuzzo
D000328:Adult; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014195:Travel; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult