Hepatitis C Virus Among Female Sex Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted Along Rivers and Highways in the Amazon Region

Overview

Journal Pathogens

Date 2019 Nov 20

PMID 31739623

Citations 5

Authors

Aldemir B Oliveira-Filho

Diego Wendel F Aires

Natalia S Cavalcante

Nairis Costa Raiol

Brenda Luena A Lisboa

Paula Cristina R Frade

Luana M da Costa

Luiz Marcelo L Pinheiro

Luiz Fernando A Machado

Luisa C Martins

Glaucia C Silva-Oliveira

Joao Renato R Pinho

Emil Kupek

Jose Alexandre R Lemos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies found a high prevalence of pathogens among female sex workers (FSWs) in the Amazon region, and established their parenteral and sexual transmission. This study estimated the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and associated risk factors, and the frequency of HCV genotypes and resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) in this vulnerable group.

Methods: Distinct sampling methods were used to access 412 FSWs in cities and riverside communities in the Amazon region from 2015 to 2018. Three methods for HCV diagnosis were used to determine infection status. HCV genotypes and RASs were identified by sequencing and nucleotide fragment analysis. An association between HCV infection and exposure factors was determined by bivariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: In total, 44 (10.7%) FSWs were exposed to HCV, and 32 (7.8%) of them had active infection. Nine socioeconomic characteristics and risky sexual behaviors were associated with HCV exposure, particularly unprotected sex and condom exemption for the clients who paid extra money. Genotype 1 (81.3%) and 3 (18.7%) were detected. The frequency of FSWs with RASs was 23.1% (6/26) for grazoprevir related to the occurrence of substitutions Y56F and S122G.

Conclusions: HCV infection among FSWs is highly prevalent and dominated by genotype I. Urgent preventive and treatment measures are required to reduce HCV infection in FSWs and the general population.

Citing Articles

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among Female Sex Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in Three Major Cities in Northern Brazil.

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Molecular Epidemiology of HIV-1 and HTLV-1/2 Among Female Sex Workers in Four Cities in the State of Para, Northern Brazil.

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Coelho E, Souza S, Costa C, Costa L, Pinheiro L, Machado L Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2020; 115(7):792-800.

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Prevalence of syphilis in female sex workers in three countryside cities of the state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon.

de Souza R, Madeira L, Pereira M, da Silva R, Sales J, Azevedo V BMC Infect Dis. 2020; 20(1):129.

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