title: HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis prevalence and coinfection among sex workers in Southern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sex workers (SWs) are vulnerable to HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis coinfection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tubarão, Laguna, and Imbituba, Southern Brazil. We surveyed 147 SWs using face-to-face interviews and blood sampling for serological evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV) was 23.1%, syphilis 19.7%, hepatitis C (HCV) 8.8%, and HIV 8.8%. Of 13 HIV-infected patients, 3 were co-infected with HCV, 4 with syphilis, and 5 with HBV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SWs had high HIV infection rates, and coinfection with viral hepatitis and syphilis.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Mestrado em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina. Tubarão, SC. fabiana.trevisol@unisul.br
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schuelter-Trevisol
authors.forename: Geisiane
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Custódio
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Barreto da
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Mikely Byala de
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Audrei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolfart
authors.forename: Daisson José
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Trevisol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult