HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis prevalence and coinfection among sex workers in Southern Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Fabiana Schuelter-Trevisol, Geisiane Custodio, Ana Carolina Barreto da Silva, Mikely Byala de Oliveira, Audrei Wolfart, Daisson Jose Trevisol
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2013
• Subjects: HIV; Hepatitis; Syphilis; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-1364-2013; https://doaj.org/article/58c24d3a7b5546809b6f6b9319d8aeb0

Introduction 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.