A Study on the HBV and the HCV Infections in Female Sex Workers and their Co-Infection with HIV

摘要

>Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) have been shown to enhance the transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The Hepatitis B and the Hepatitis C viral infections are highly prevalent among the HIV-infected persons as a result of shared transmission routes.>Aim: To determine the seroprevalence of the HIV, Syphilis, HBV and HCV infections and their co-infection rates among Female Sex Workers (FSWs). Settings and Design: 250 blood samples were collected from FSWs from a red light area of Mumbai by using an outreach strategy.>Materials and Methods: Their sera were tested for the HIV antibodies as per the strategy II of the NACO guidelines, for syphilis by RPR, for the HCV antibodies and for HBsAg by ELISA.>Results: The study group showed (105/250) 42% HIV reactivity, (15/250) 6% RPR reactivity, (20/250) 8% HBsAg positivity, (7/250) 2.8% HCV reactivity, (11/250) 4.4% HIV-RPR reactivity, (7/250) 2.8% HIV-HBV co-infection and (3/250)1.2% HIV-HCV co-infection.>Statistical test which was used: The Chi square test.>Conclusion: A high HIV sero-prevalence was found among the FSWs. A high HIV prevalence was found among the RPR reactive FSWs. The relationship between the HIV reactivity and the RPR reactivity was statistically significant. Co-infections with HBV and HCV were detected among the HIV reactive FSWs, but they were not statistically significant.