5th International AIDS Conference Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Jun 4-9, 1989

Int Conf AIDS 1989 Jun 4-9; 5:171 (abstract no. A.564)

Wallace JI, Beatrice S; Foundation for Research on Sexually Transmitted Diseases, New York, NY, USA

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rates of HIV-1 exposure in streetwalking prostitutes of New York.

METHODS: In 1985-1988 prostitutes working on the streets of New York City were tested for anti-HIV-1 antibodies. Blood was drawn on-site, and was tested for antibodies by ELISA with Western Blot confirmation. The women were queried as to their ages, number of years worked, and histories of risk behavior: including history of transfusions, intravenous drug use, or lovers who were known to be intravenous drug users.

RESULTS: The rates of positivity declined from 1985 to 1988. TABULAR DATA, SEE ABSTRACT VOLUME. A total of 169 women were examined, of whom 14 (8.9%) were found to be infected. Of the 20 (12%) who admitted to intravenous drug abuse, 6 (30%) were positive. Of the 149 (88%) who denied intravenous drug use, 8 (5%) were positive. In 1982, a similar survey of T4/T8 cells among women who worked the brothels and the streets of New York City, showed a rate of 19% immune deficiency.

CONCLUSIONS: Although there has not been an increase in the rate of infection among prostitutes, there remain significant numbers (as many as 5%) of infected women working the streets. An in-depth study and program of outreach to prostitutes in all of metropolitan New York City will begin in March of 1989.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV-1, Prostitution, HIV Infections, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Risk-Taking, Data Collection, Blotting, Western, Substance-Related Disorders, New York City, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Prevalence, New York, Human, Female, ICA5

1989-06-04
A564

Copyright © 1989 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.