A DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY OF SPANISH FEMALE SEX WORKERS - HIV PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK-FACTORS

In order to examine the prevalence of HIV infection and associated ris k factors amongst Spanish female prostitutes a multicentre (n=22) cros s-sectional study was conducted between :November 1989 and January 199 1. Data collected included socioeconomic characteristics, sexual behav iour and health status together with blood samples. A total of 1633 pr ostitutes were recruited into the study. Of these, 1433 (87.8%) consen ted to blood samples being taken and 180 (12.6%) were HIV positive. HI V seroprevalence was 54.7% for intravenous drug users (IVDUs) versus 3 .7% for non-IVDUs, Previous imprisonment, hepatitis B and a partner wh o was an IVDU were significant predictors of HIV infection according t o multivariate logistic regression models.