[Markers of HIV infection in prostitutes: analysis of preventive and risk factors]

We studied 501 prostitutes from the northern and eastern areas of Santiago in november and december, 1987. HIV infection was studied by the HIV antibody and also by HIV antigen. At that time no positive reactors were found. Prostitutes from the northern area were older, of a lower socioeconomic background and less promiscuous, in comparison to prostitutes of the eastern area. However, other disorders of sexual transmission were found in 41% of prostitutes of the northern area and in only 28% of those from the eastern area. This difference may be attributed to the more frequent use of preservative in the latter group.