title: [Sexually transmitted infections in a cohort of female sex workers in Palermo].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (HIV, HBV, HCV, Treponema pallidum) in a cohort of foreign female sex workers observed in Palermo from 1999 to 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Authors conducted a prospective observational study on 239 foreign female sex workers aged between 18 and 36 years old. The nation of origin was Nigeria, Romania, Ucraina, Bulgaria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the diagnosis of IST was placed in 17 women, 7.1% of the population under study. In 14 cases we observed a single infection: HIV in 5 cases; syphilis and HBV in 4 cases; HCV in only one case. In the remaining three women were diagnosed a co-infection with HIV and HBV, HIV and HCV, HIV and syphilis LUE. In our study, a statistically significant correlation (p<0.0001) was observed between the non-constant condom use and a higher frequency of HIV, HCV and syphilis infection. This correlation was not statistically significant in the women with HBV infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show a higher morbidity of this specific population, and, consequently, the need to start as soon as possible specific programs of intervention which can ensure the health of these women. Language and cultural barriers, as well as immigration concern among all vulnerable populations, form barriers to healthcare access.
authors.forename: Tullio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prestileo
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.forename: Ernesto Renato
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Dalle Nogare
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cassarà
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bellipanni
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanfilippo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060386:Sex Workers; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult