HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS SEROPREVALENCE AND CONDOM USE AMONG FEMALE SEX WORKERS IN ITALY

Background and Objectives: In two different studies, me evaluated the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroprevalence rate and the condom use in a group of female sex workers working in Italy. Study Design: I n the first study we collected data on HIV serologic testing of female sex workers; in the second study, we evaluated the use of condoms and high-risk sexual practices by sex workers with their clients and nonp aying partners. Results: Overall, 131 of 802 (16%) were HIV positive: 36 of 558 (6%) professional sex workers and 95 of 244 (39%) sex worker s who used intravenous drugs. There was a significant increase of sero prevalence among professional sex workers between 1988 to 1990 and 199 1 to 1995 (2% versus 11%, P less than or equal to 0.001), whereas amon g the sex workers who used intravenous drugs, the increase was not sig nificant (37% versus 40%, p = 0.70). Similarly, the HIV seroprevalence in the Italian professional sex workers is constant in the two period s of time (2% versus 1%). In the second study, 97 of 102 (95%) sex wor kers reported regular condom use with clients, whereas 63% of sex work ers reported they never used them with nonpaying partners, Fourteen se x workers reported hating nonpaying partners who used intravenous drug s and 6 reported having nonpaying bisexual partners; 8 of these 20 par tners were HIV positive. Conclusion: The results of the first study sh owed a significant increase of seroprevalence among professional sex w orkers, whereas the high seroprevalence among sex workers who used int ravenous drugs was constant. The results of the second study showed th at sex workers may be at higher risk for HIV infection through noncomm ercial sexual intercourses.