Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 11, Issue 2, 2009, Pages 99-104

Sexual practices, drug use behaviors, and prevalence of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and HTLV-1/2 in immigrant and non-immigrant female sex workers in Argentina (Article)

Bautista C.T.* , Pando M.A. , Reynaga E. , Marone R. , Sateren W.B. , Montano S.M. , Sanchez J.L. , Avila M.M.
  • a US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1 Taft Court, Rockville, MD 20850, United States, US Naval Medical Research Center Detachment, Lima, Peru
  • b Centro Nacional de Referencia para el SIDA, Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
  • c Asociación de Mujeres Meretrices de Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • d NEXO, Asociación Civil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • e US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1 Taft Court, Rockville, MD 20850, United States
  • f US Naval Medical Research Center Detachment, Lima, Peru
  • g US Naval Medical Research Center Detachment, Lima, Peru, Department of Defense Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States, Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Advancement Military Medicine, Inc., Rockville, MD, United States
  • h Centro Nacional de Referencia para el SIDA, Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

Objective: To study socio-demographics, sexual practices, drug use behaviors, and prevalences of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 in immigrant (foreigner) and non-immigrant (local/native) female sex workers (FSW). Design: This was a cross-sectional study in immigrant and non-immigrant FSW living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Participants were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. Results: A total of 625 FSW were enrolled, of whom 169 (27%) were immigrant FSW from Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Peru, and Uruguay. The prevalence of syphilis and hepatitis C was significantly higher among Argentinean FSW than among immigrant FSW. However, hepatitis B prevalence was higher among immigrant FSW. Adjusted risk factor analysis comparing immigrant FSW with Argentinean FSW indicated that marital status (single), occupation (none), fee per sex act (≤US$7), workplace (bar and cabaret), and anal sex with clients were significantly associated with immigrant FSW status. Conclusions: Effective HIV/STI prevention and medical care programs need to be tailored to the specific needs of both FSW groups in Argentina. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2008.

Author Keywords

Migration STI Immigrant Argentina Risk Sex worker HIV Behavior

Index Keywords

immigrant Argentina sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection demography human Health Behavior risk assessment controlled study priority journal Substance-Related Disorders female worker Human T cell leukemia virus infection Cross-Sectional Studies marriage Young Adult migrant worker Humans income workplace Adolescent Emigrants and Immigrants female occupational exposure Virus Diseases prostitution sexual health prevalence Syphilis Article high risk behavior major clinical study adult drug use occupational health hepatitis B hepatitis C
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-60449088949&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-007-9114-2&partnerID=40&md5=6a14d4973e8b521cffbb1294c930ff59
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-007-9114-2
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English