title: Human papillomavirus prevalence, cervical abnormalities and risk factors among female sex workers in Lima, Peru.
abstract: Female sex workers (FSWs) are at high risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Questionnaires were administered to 200 FSWs aged 18-26 years in Lima, Peru, to gather risk behaviours, and cervical swab samples were collected for Pap smears and HPV DNA testing as part of a longitudinal study. Participants reported a median of 120 clients in the past month, and 99.2% reported using condoms with clients. The prevalence of any HPV in cervical samples was 66.8%; 34 (17.1%) participants had prevalent HPV 16 or 18, and 92 (46.2%) had one or more oncogenic types. Fifteen women had abnormal Pap smears, 13 of which were HPV DNA positive. Fewer years since first sex was associated with oncogenic HPV prevalence in a model adjusted for previous sexually transmitted infection (STI) status and condom use with partners (prevalence ratio = 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.60-0.97). Our data confirm the high rates of HPV transmission among FSWs in Peru, highlighting the need for early and effective strategies to prevent cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Blas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Byraiah
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guerra-Giraldez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sarabia-Vega
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carcamo
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Gravitt
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Halsey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D060386:Sex Workers; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral