DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RETROVIRAL INFECTIONS (HIV-1, HIV-2, AND HTLV-I) AMONG FEMALE PROFESSIONAL SEX WORKERS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

In 1990/1991, 885 prostitutes residing in 11 of the 12 Local Governmen t Areas (LGAs) of Lagos State, Nigeria, participated in a cross-sectio nal study to determine current seroprevalence of antibodies to human i mmunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2), and human T-c ell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). The overall prevalence of HIV- 1 was 12.3%, of HIV-2, 2. 1 %, and of HTLV-I, 2.8%. HIV-1 seropositivi ty did not vary significantly by age, socioeconomic class, or national ity, but HIV-1 seroprevalence was significantly elevated for prostitut es resident in the Port area of Lagos which serves as a crossroads for international and national commerce (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.1, 4.6). HI V-2 infection was significantly associated with low socioeconomic clas s (OR = 3.7; 95% CI = 1.2, 10.8) and non-Nigerian nationality (OR = 6. 7; 95% CI = 2.5, 18.4). Prevalence of HTLV-1 infection increased signi ficantly with age (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.0, 5.3). The high seroprevalen ce of HIV-1 in this survey, compared with previous surveys reported in the last several years and the correlation between high prevalence an d areas of international commerce suggest that HIV-1 is spreading in t his area of Nigeria. Intensified prevention campaigns are needed to ad dress this possible emerging epidemic.