HEPATITIS-D VIRUS-INFECTION AMONG PROSTITUTES IN TAIWAN

Two hundred and sixty-three adult licensed, 233 adult and 157 teenage unlicensed prostitutes from Taiwan were studied for prevalence and ris k factors of hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection. The hepatitis B carrie r rate among the three groups was 21, 15 and 20%, respectively, not si gnificantly different from that of the general population in this area . However, the prevalence of HDV infection among carrier prostitutes w as 55, 36 and 16%, respectively, much higher than that in general hepa titis B carriers. Univariate analysis revealed that the history of con ducting paid sex for more than 12 months (P < 0.03), ear-piercing (P < 0.02), tattooing (P < 0.02), and gonorrhoea or syphilis (P < 0.005) w ere significant factors associated with HDV infection among these subj ects. Multivariate analysis revealed that the history of ear-piercing and venereal diseases (P < 0.001) were still significant. In summary, genital ulcers caused by venereal diseases due to frequent sexual cont act with multiple partners, and use of unsterilized needles in ear-pie rcing or tattooing play important roles in the high prevalence of HDV infection in prostitutes.