Health care of female commercial sex workers.

This article highlights health issues related to prostitution, with special reference to the situation in Europe. Strategies aimed at improving the health care of commercial sex workers, including programs for screening for sexually transmitted infections, are discussed. Problems related to failure to follow-up, particularly of mobile (migratory, international) commercial sex workers, are considered.

Prostitution in Riga, Latvia--a socio-medical matter of concern.

Objectives: To study the background and the working and socio-economic conditions, and the prevalence of some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), among street and sex club female Latvian prostitutes.

Study Design: Structured in-depth interviews, as well as clinical examination and laboratory tests for gonorrhea, syphilis, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, ectoparasites and HIV-infections.

Results: Approximately half of the 107 women stemmed from rural Latvian villages, the rest from the capital city of Riga.

Contraceptive use in women with bacterial vaginosis.

The aim of the study was to investigate if bacterial vaginosis (BV) is associated with use of specific contraceptives. Women at family planning and youth clinics (n = 956), among whom 131 had BV, were subjects for structured in-depth interviews including current and previous contraceptive use. Variables measuring sexual risk-taking were ascertained.

Sexual behavior risk factors associated with bacterial vaginosis and Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Background And Objectives: Few studies have demonstrated that bacterial vaginosis (BV) is associated with sexual behavior risk factors similar to those for other sexually transmitted diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of these factors in a multivariate analysis of data from women infected with BV and Chlamydia trachomatis, and noninfected control subjects.

Goals: To study detailed sexual behavior risk factors reported by women with BV versus genital C.