A Study on the HBV and the HCV Infections in Female Sex Workers and their Co-Infection with HIV.

Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) have been shown to enhance the transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The Hepatitis B and the Hepatitis C viral infections are highly prevalent among the HIV-infected persons as a result of shared transmission routes.

Aim: To determine the seroprevalence of the HIV, Syphilis, HBV and HCV infections and their co-infection rates among Female Sex Workers (FSWs).

Settings And Design: 250 blood samples were collected from FSWs from a red light area of Mumbai by using an outreach strategy.

Materials And Methods: Their sera were tested for the HIV antibodies as per the strategy II of the NACO guidelines, for syphilis by RPR, for the HCV antibodies and for HBsAg by ELISA.

Results: The study group showed (105/250) 42% HIV reactivity, (15/250) 6% RPR reactivity, (20/250) 8% HBsAg positivity, (7/250) 2.8% HCV reactivity, (11/250) 4.4% HIV-RPR reactivity, (7/250) 2.8% HIV-HBV co-infection and (3/250)1.2% HIV-HCV co-infection. Statistical test which was used: The Chi square test.

Conclusion: A high HIV sero-prevalence was found among the FSWs. A high HIV prevalence was found among the RPR reactive FSWs. The relationship between the HIV reactivity and the RPR reactivity was statistically significant. Co-infections with HBV and HCV were detected among the HIV reactive FSWs, but they were not statistically significant.