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A scarce number of studies have been carried out to determine the epidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection in female sex workers (FSWs). The objective of this study was to examine the correlates of infection for HSV-2 with socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour and history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among FSWs in Mexico City. A sample frame of commercial sex work sites was constructed during the fall of 1992. Sites identified were streets, bars and massage parlours. During 1993 we surveyed 757 FSWs aged 18-76 years, from a random sample of sites. Participating women provided a blood sample and answered a standardized questionnaire. HSV-2 antibodies were identified based on a Western blot assay, using type-specific recombinant glycoprotein gG2. In a multivariate analysis, the presence of HSV-2 antibodies was correlated (P < 0.005) with increasing age and time working as prostitutes, low education, street working site and positive serology for syphilis. The results showed that the working site and the education level are contextual variables related to the risk of HSV-2 infection, where poorly educated and street FSWs had the highest probability of infection. Characteristics that represent periods of exposure to the virus as age and time working in prostitution were predictors of the HSV-2 infection.

PIP: The authors investigated the relationship between herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, sexual behavior, and history of STDs among female prostitutes in Mexico City. During 1993, 757 female prostitutes aged 18-76 years, of mean age 28.5 years, from a random selection of prostitution sites provided blood samples and answered a standardized questionnaire. The presence of HSV-2 antibodies was identified through Western blot assay, using type-specific recombinant glycoprotein gG2. Overall seroprevalences for the study population were 65.1%, 0.6%, 3%, and 6.4% for HSV-2, HIV, hepatitis B virus, and syphilis, respectively. There was no significant correlation between HIV and HSV-2 serological results, although all 5 HIV-seropositive women were HSV-2 seropositive. In a multivariate analysis, the presence of HSV-2 antibodies was correlated with relatively higher age and longer time working as prostitutes, low education, prostitution at a street site, and positive serology for syphilis.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if the combination of AZT/ddl offered any advantages in surrogate markers among HIV infected asymptomatic patients previously treated with AZT for at least six months. METHODS: We used a prospective cohort of 269 asymptomatic HIV patients with CD4+ cell counts between 200 and 500 cells/microL. They were given didanosine (ddl 400 mg/d) in addition to AZT (500 mg/d) and had received AZT monotherapy for an average of 20 months. End points were progression to AIDS, death, or toxicity. RESULTS: Median CD4+ cell count at the start of the combination therapy was 339 cells/microL which increased at three months to 451 and subsequently declined at 6, 12 and 18 months of followup (medians of 392, 360, 307 cells/microL respectively). Five patients progressed to AIDS, six developed toxicity (myelosuppression, hepatitis or pancreatitis) and 26 had minor side effects that required only dose reduction. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of ddl to patients with prolonged ZDV monotherapy can be useful. CD4+ T cell counts showed a significant increase at 3 months with a gradual subsequent decline to below baseline at 18 months. Adverse effect of the drugs, although frequent, did not stop therapy in most patients.

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OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological markers in female sex workers (FSW) in Mexico City. METHODS: The study population consisted of 1498 FSW who attended a detection centre for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Mexico City, between January and October 1992. Study participants responded to a standardised questionnaire and provided a blood sample for serology of syphilis, HIV, and HBV. RESULTS: A total of 0.2% (95% CI 0.1-0.3) of the population were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers. The general prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) was 6.3% (95% CI 5.5-7.1). This marker of previous exposition to HBV, was independently associated by logistic regression multivariate analysis with age, working in the street, and history of blood transfusion (BT) before 1987 (OR 4.8, 95% CI 2.1-11.3). Syphilis prevalence was 7.6% (95% CI 6.2-8.9) and HIV prevalence was 0.1% (95% CI 0-0.3). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HBV infection in this group of Mexican FSW is lower than previously reported in other countries. In addition, the frequency of HBsAg carriers is similar to that in the general Mexican population. The absence of two major risk factors for HBV transmission in this group of FSW--that is, injecting drug use and anal intercourse, could help to explain this finding. However, the positive association between anti-HBc and history of blood transfusion demonstrated here, highlights the need to reinforce strict control of blood supplies in Mexico.

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OBJECTIVES: This study tried to determine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevalences among female commercial sex workers in Mexico City. METHODS: A sampling frame was constructed that included bars, massage parlors, and street corners. RESULTS: Prevalences for Treponema pallidum, herpes simplex virus type 2, HIV, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Chlamydia trachomatis were 6.4%, 65%, 0.6%, 3.7%, and 11.1%, respectively. A significant association was found between higher STD frequencies and working at street sites. CONCLUSIONS: Most STD frequencies were lower in comparison with rates found for female sex workers in other countries. However, preventive programs against STD/ HIV are needed in this population.

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OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) serologic markers in 1,377 men with high-risk sexual behavior attending a center for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) detection in Mexico City. METHODS: The study population consisted of all men who were tested for HIV from March to September, 1992. Study participants responded to a standardized questionnaire and provided a blood sample for serology. RESULTS: A total of 1.9% of the population were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, and there was a significant difference in HBsAg prevalence between HIV-negative (0.8%) and HIV-positive individuals (7.9%). Sexual preference was associated with HBsAg prevalence; only 0.3% of men who had female sexual partners exclusively were HBsAg carriers, compared with 4.8% of men who had male sexual partners exclusively. Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) was 15.4%. However, men who reported only female partners had a 4.6% prevalence, whereas men who had only male partners had a 30.4% prevalence. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated an association of anti-HBc prevalence with age, marital status, sexual preference, seropositivity for HIV, and antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that coinfection with HBV is common in the HIV-positive men studied. The highest prevalences of HBsAg and anti-HBc were observed among homosexual men. These results highlight the need to intensify safe-sex education campaigns and to promote hepatitis B vaccination especially among this population group.

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OBJECTIVES: To study the seroprevalence of syphilis, herpes simplex-2, hepatitis B and HIV, and main sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behavior in women seeking testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Mexico City. METHODOLOGY: A self-applied questionnaire was used in 454 women; and a blood sample was taken for the detection of markers for syphilis, herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2)), antibodies against core and surface antigens for hepatitis B virus (HBV), and ELISA and Western blot for HIV. RESULTS: Seroprevalences for antibodies against T. pallidum, HSV-2, HBV and HIV were 4.6%, 29.3%, 3.5% and 4.0%, respectively. Forty-six percent of the women were 20 to 29 years old; 70% reported complete junior high school or higher education level; 75% were sexually active; 56% reported at least one stable male sexual partner, 17% reported at least one occasional male sexual partner in the last three months, and 60% had had at least one sexual relation in the last three months; of these, only 18% (n = 82) reported the use of a condom as a preventive measure. Almost 30% of the HIV positive women had a history of blood transfusion, while less than 10% of the HIV negative women had received a transfusion. In addition, 10.6% said that one of their sexual partners was infected with HIV or had AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: Risks of HIV/STD transmission for this group of self-selected women were linked to blood transfusion, low education and, most important, the risk from male sexual partners who were HIV seropositive. It is expected that these results will contribute to the improvement and development of strategies for the control and prevention of STD among this population group, as well as the general population in Mexico.

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The objectives of this study were to evaluate the frequency and determinants of rectal bleeding and the association between rectal bleeding and risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among homosexual/ bisexual men in Mexico City. Men who requested anonymous HIV testing at a public clinic in Mexico City and who reported engaging in any homosexual behavior were eligible to participate in this study. Trained staff collected information on demographic factors, sexual behavior, psychological states, and HIV serostatus from all consenting, eligible clients. Logistic regression modeling was used to investigate the independent effect of risk factors among 2,758 men who were tested between June 1991 and December 1992. Bleeding during anal intercourse was a common occurrence: More than one third of the men in the study reported some bleeding, and 8% reported bleeding in half or more of their intercourse episodes. The prevalence of HIV infection among bleeders was 42% as compared with 28% in nonbleeders (p < 0.0001), and the adjusted odds ratio was 1.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.8) for men who bled in more than half of their anal intercourse episodes relative to nonbleeders. There was a trend of increasing HIV seroprevalence with increasing frequency of rectal bleeding (p = 0.001). Nine percent of all HIV infections and 42% of infections among frequent bleeders were attributable to rectal bleeding. Men who reported both rectal bleeding and anal warts were 3.5 (95% CI 2.1-5.8) times more likely to be HIV-infected in multivariate analysis than men reporting neither rectal bleeding nor anal warts. Determinants of rectal bleeding included older age, more education, more receptive anal intercourse than insertive intercourse, receptive digital-anal contact, anal warts, and genital ulcers. Among men reporting sex with men in Mexico City, rectal bleeding is common. It is an independent risk factor for HIV infection, and warrants attention in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome prevention efforts. Rectal bleeding that results from rupture of anal warts may be an especially effective portal of HIV transmission.

PIP: During June 1991 to December 1992, 68.8% of all men who gave informed consent for HIV testing at a public health clinic in Mexico City and for participation in this study had ever had sexual intercourse with men. The final sample size was 2758 men. The study examined the reported frequency of rectal bleeding, the determinants of rectal bleeding, and the interactions between rectal bleeding and other risk factors with HIV infection among homosexual/bisexual men. It also aimed to determine whether rectal bleeding is an independent risk factor for HIV transmission. 32.8% had HIV infection. 39% reported some rectal bleeding during anal intercourse. 8% experienced rectal bleeding during at least 50% of intercourse episodes. Overall, bleeders were more likely to be HIV infected than nonbleeders (42% vs. 28%; p 0.0001; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.8 for men who bled in more than 50% of anal intercourse episodes; AOR = 1.3 for men who sometimes bled). The odds ratios increased as the frequency of reported rectal bleeding increased (p = 0.001). Condom use during receptive anal intercourse did not affect the association between rectal bleeding and HIV infection. 9% of all HIV infections were attributable to rectal bleeding. 42% of HIV infections among bleeders were attributable to rectal bleeding. In the multivariate analysis, men with both rectal bleeding and anal warts were more likely to have HIV infection than men who had neither (67.9% vs. 27.2%; AOR = 3.5). Significant predictors of rectal bleeding were older age (i.e., =or 30) (AOR = 1.5), more education (AOR = 1.4-1.5), more receptive anal intercourse than insertive intercourse (AOR = 5.3-16.1), receptive digital-anal contact (AOR = 1.6), anal warts (AOR = 1.9), and genital ulcers (AOR = 2). These findings show that rectal bleeding is an independent risk factor for HIV infection. Rupture of anal warts is an especially effective portal of HIV transmission.

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Since 1987 The National AIDS Council in Mexico (CONASIDA), has conducted research projects among female commercial sex workers (CSW), who are seen at the AIDS Information Centers. Through these studies, we have been able to find out how different issues influence commercial sex work in Mexico City. Since the beginning of our own studies in 1989, HIV prevalence in this particular group has remained low (0.04%-0.2%). Factors found to be associated with condom use were: educational level, not having children, more experience in sex work and younger age. Condom use was reported by 88% of the women; however, qualitative information and high STD prevalence rates suggest a much lower condom use. Mandatory HIV testing is not useful as a preventive measure among sex workers. Persuasive and structural interventions must be implemented in accordance with local and legal situations.

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