THE PREVALENCE OF SEROLOGICAL MARKERS FOR SYPHILIS AMONGST A SAMPLE OF SPANISH PROSTITUTES

The results of a multicentre study of 1668 Spanish prostitutes are des cribed with regard to syphilis infection. For those women who permitte d serological tests (n=1095), 30.59% (confidence interval (CI): 30.55% -30.63%) were positive for markers indicating current or prior infecti on. After adjustment was made for other variables, a significant assoc iation with syphilis infection was observed for periods of exposure (i .e. age and years working as a prostitute). No significant association s were detected for either intravenous drug use, or educational attain ment. The results of this study are similar to those of some other inv estigations into the prevalence of syphilis amongst prostitutes.