Genital Tract Infections, Bacterial Vaginosis, HIV, and Reproductive Health Issues Among Lima-based Clandestine Female Sex Workers

Overview

Journal Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol

Publisher Wiley

Specialties Gynecology & Obstetrics
Infectious Diseases

Date 2012 Jul 20

PMID 22811592

Citations 13

Authors

M E Perla

Annette E Ghee

Sixto Sanchez

R Scott McClelland

Annette L Fitzpatrick

Luis Suarez-Ognio

Javier R Lama

Jorge Sanchez

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics of 212 Peruvian female sex workers (FSWs) were analyzed. The association between genital tract infections (GTIs) and risk factors by multivariate analysis was evaluated. Eighty-eight percent of FSWs were diagnosed with at least one GTI (HSV-2 80.1%, BV 44.8%, candidiasis 9.9%, syphilis seropositivity 9.4%, Trichomonas vaginalis 2.4%, HIV seropositivity 2.4%). Reported condom use with clients was nearly universal (98.3%), but infrequent with husband/regular partners (7.3%). In multivariate analysis BV was negatively associated with more consistent condom use (PRR = 0.63, 95% CI, 0.42-0.96). Many had not visited a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) clinic or been tested for HIV in the past year (40.6%, 47.1%, resp.). Nonclient contraceptive use was low (57%) and induced abortion was common (68%). High GTI burden and abortions suggest that a services-access gap persists among marginalized FSWs. Continued health outreach programs and integrating family planning and reproductive health services into existing STI clinic services are recommended.

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