HTLV-I infection among prostitutes and pregnant women in Kinshasa, Zaire: how important is high-risk sexual behavior?

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

HTLV-I infection among prostitutes and pregnant women in Kinshasa, Zaire: how important is high-risk sexual behavior?

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1995 Apr 15;8(5):511-5. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/95211545
Delaporte E; Buve A; Nzila N; Goeman J; Dazza MC; Henzel D; Heyward W; St-Louis M; Piot P; Laga M; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.

Abstract: High-risk sexual behavior as risk factor for human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection was assessed in cross-sectional studies with 1,183 prostitutes and 1,166 pregnant women in Kinshasa, Zaire. Eighty six (7.3%) prostitutes were positive for HTLV-I. The seroprevalence among prostitutes from the regions along the equator was 12.7%, whereas among prostitutes from the other regions it ranged between 0 and 4.3%. In the prostitutes from the high-prevalence regions, but not in the prostitutes from the low-prevalence regions, HTLV-I infection was associated with increasing age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.1 per year increment], active syphilis (OR = 2.3), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (OR = 2.0). Forty three (3.7%) pregnant women were HTLV-I seropositive. Among the women from low-prevalence regions, there was no significant difference in HTLV-I seroprevalence between prostitutes (4.3%) and pregnant women (3.5%). In a group of 409 prostitutes who were observed for a mean duration of 23 months, the incidence of HTLV-I infection was 0.7 per 100 women-years, whereas the incidence of HIV infection was 9.8 per 100 women-years. We conclude that in Kinshasa prostitution per se was not associated with an increased risk of HTLV-I infection.

Keywords: Adult Age Factors Cohort Studies Comparative Study Cross-Sectional Studies Female Human HIV Infections/COMPLICATIONS HTLV-I Infections/COMPLICATIONS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Incidence Multivariate Analysis Pregnancy Pregnancy Complications/*EPIDEMIOLOGY Prevalence *Prostitution Regression Analysis Risk Factors *Sex Behavior Sexually Transmitted Diseases/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Syphilis/COMPLICATIONS Zaire/EPIDEMIOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE
950730
M9570904

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1995. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1995. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .