Summary
HIV infection has increased to epidemic proportions in Thailand since 1987. There have been separate epidemics among population groups at high risk of infection and significant increases in different localities. The northeast region of Thailand has been affected by the epidemic since early 1989. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with HIV transmission among prostitutes during an early phase of the epidemic in the regional center of Khon Kaen. Three hundred and fifty-six prostitutes known to work in the urban area of Khon Kaen (Ampur Muang) in November 1990 were included in the study. Prostitutes were divided into two groups according to the type of place where they worked: direct prostitutes (in brothels, n=217) and indirect prostitutes (in massage parlors, n=139). The prevalence of HIV infection was found to be 12% among direct prostitutes and 2% among indirect prostitutes. Four variables were significantly associated with HIV infection after adjusting for confounders by logistic regression analysis: previous work in an area of high HIV prevalence, working in Khon Kaen less than one month, a low price charged for sex and using injectable contraceptives. Follow-up investigations are currently being carried out to explore in detail the association between the use of injectable contraceptives and HIV infection.
Zusammenfassung
Seit 1987 nahm die Ausbreitung von HIV in Thailand epidemische Ausmaße an. Bevölkerungsgruppen mit hohem Infektionsrisiko wurden in den verschiedenen Regionen von zeitlich unterscheidbaren Epidemien erfaßt. Die Nordost-Region wurde vergleichsweise spät, erst 1989 betroffen. Der Zweck dieser Studie war die Identifizierung von Faktoren, die mit der übertragung von HIV bei Prostituierten in der Provinzhauptstadt Khon Kaen während der Frühphase der Epidemie assoziiert waren. 356 Prostituierte wurden im November 1990 in die Studie aufgenommen. Sie wurden gemäß ihrem Arbeitsplatz in direkte Prostituierte (in Bordellen, n=217) und indirekte Prostituierte (in Massage-Salons, n=139) gruppiert. Die HIV-Prävalenz betrug bei den direkten Prostituierten 12% und 2% bei den indirekten Prostituierten. Vier Variablen waren signifikant mit einer HIV-Infektion assoziiert, nachdem eine logistische Regressions-Analyse durchgeführt wurde: vorangegangene Tätigkeiten in einer Region mit hoher HIV-Prävalenz, Prostitution in Khon Kaen weniger als einen Monat, ein niedriger Preis, der für Sex gefordert wurde und die Anwendung injizierbarer Kontrazeptiva. Gegenwärtig werden weitere Untersuchungen durchgeführt, um den Zusammenhang zwischen der Anwendung injizierbarer Kontrazeptiva und einer HIV-Infektion im Detail zu eruieren.
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Rehle, T., Brinkmann, U., Coplan, P. et al. Risk factors of HIV-1 infection among female prostitutes in Khon Kaen, northeast Thailand. Infection 20, 328–331 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01710677
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01710677