PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Limpakarnjanarat, K
AU  - Mastro, T D
AU  - Saisorn, S
AU  - Uthaivoravit, W
AU  - Kaewkungwal, J
AU  - Korattana, S
AU  - Young, N L
AU  - Morse, S A
AU  - Schmid, D S
AU  - Weniger, B G
AU  - Nieburg, P
TI  - HIV-1 and other sexually transmitted infections in a cohort of female sex workers in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
AID  - 10.1136/sti.75.1.30
DP  - 1999 Feb 01
TA  - Sexually Transmitted Infections
PG  - 30--35
VI  - 75
IP  - 1
4099  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/75/1/30.short
4100  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/75/1/30.full
SO  - Sex Transm Infect1999 Feb 01; 75
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine demographic and behavioural factors and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) associated with prevalent HIV-1 infection among brothel based and other female sex workers (FSWs) in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand. METHODS: Data were collected from questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory evaluations on Thai FSWs enrolled in a prospective cohort study in Chiang Rai, Thailand, from 1991 to the end of 1994. RESULTS: HIV-1 seroprevalence was 32% among 500 women: 47% for 280 brothel workers and 13% for 220 other FSWs (p < 0.001); 96% of infections were due to HIV-1 subtype E. At enrolment, other STIs were common: chlamydia, 20%; gonorrhoea, 15%; active syphilis (serological diagnosis), 9%; genital ulcer, 12%; seroreactivity to Haemophilus ducreyi, 21%, and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), 76%. On multiple logistic regression analysis, HIV-1 was associated with brothel work, birth in upper northern Thailand, initiation of commercial sex at < 15 years of age, syphilis, HSV-2 seropositivity, and genital ulcer. CONCLUSIONS: Young Thai FSWs working in brothels in northern Thailand in the early phase of the HIV epidemic have been at very high risk for HIV-1 infection and several other STIs. Programmes are needed to prevent girls and young women from entering the sex industry and to reduce the risk of infection with HIV-1 and other STIs.