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.