[Infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in prostitutes and risk factors]

Women dedicated to prostitution constitute a group at risk of acquiring the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). This study was designed with the aim of knowing the frequency of this infection in prostitutes and the factors associated to the same.

A descriptive transversal study with analytic components including 444 women who voluntarily attended an AIDS prevention center from 1986-1991 was carried out. The HIV-1 antibody test was performed in 440 of the subjects. All the subjects were interrogated on sociodemographic variables and risk of infection.

Of the 440 women studied, 24 had HIV-1 antibodies with a global prevalence (1986-1991) of 5.5% with confidence intervals of 3.4, and 7.6% at 95% (CI 95%). During the study period the prevalence remained stable: 6.8% (1986-87), 5.5% (1988), 4.3% (1989) and 4.3% (1990-91). No positive association was found between HIV-1 infection and education, time in prostitution and the use of condoms. HIV-1 infection was strongly associated to the use of drugs, adjusted odds ratio by logistic regression OR = 26.9 (CI 95%: 8.9; 9/1). Positive associations were also observed with greater number of sexual partners and syphilis but these did not reach statistical significance. The percentage of prostitutes who used condoms with more than 33% of their clients increased from 44.5% in 1986-87 to 85.9% in 1990-91.

In this study no considerable changes were found with respect to the prevalence of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus-1 in prostitutes in Spain. Similarly, this collective has increased its use of preventive measures although they remain insufficient, indicating that more energetic preventive strategies are necessary. These measures should be particularly active with the group of young prostitutes.