Drug-related behaviors independently associated with syphilis infection among female sex workers in two Mexico-US border cities.
OBJECTIVE
To identify correlates of active syphilis infection among female sex workers (FSWs) in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analyses of baseline interview data. Correlates of active syphilis (antibody titers >1 : 8) were identified by logistic regression. Setting Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, two Mexican cities on the US border that are situated on major drug trafficking routes and where prostitution is quasi-legal.


METHODS
A total of 914 FSWs aged > or =18 years without known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who had had recent unprotected sex with clients.


METHODS
Baseline interviews and testing for syphilis antibody using Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) tests.


RESULTS
Median age and duration in sex work were 32 and 4 years, respectively. Overall, 18.0% had ever injected drugs, 14.2% often or always used illegal drugs before or during sex in the past month, 31.4% had clients in the last 6 months who injected drugs, and 68.6% reported having clients from the United States. Prevalence of HIV and active syphilis were 5.9% and 10.3%, respectively. Factors independently associated with active syphilis included injecting drugs (AOR: 2.39; 95% CI: 1.40, 4.08), using illegal drugs before or during sex (AOR: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.16, 3.65) and having any US clients (AOR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.43, 5.70).


CONCLUSIONS
Among female sex workers in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, drug-using behaviors were associated more closely with active syphilis than were sexual behaviors, suggesting the possibility of parenteral transmission of T. pallidum. Syphilis eradication programs should consider distributing sterile syringes to drug injectors and assisting FSWs with safer-sex negotiation in the context of drug use.
Loza
Oralia
O
Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0680, USA.
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
Rusch
Melanie
M
Martínez
Gustavo A
GA
Lozada
Remedios
R
Staines-Orozco
Hugo
H
Magis-Rodríguez
Carlos
C
Strathdee
Steffanie A
SA
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D016387:Women's Health
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