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. 1987 Dec;99(3):767–774. doi: 10.1017/s0950268800066620

Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B in Spanish prostitutes.

L Requena Caballero 1, C Requena Caballero 1, I Requena Caballero 1, M Sánchez López 1, F Vázquez López 1, J Romero Guerrero 1, M Casado Jiménez 1
PMCID: PMC2249233  PMID: 3428379

Abstract

Eighty prostitutes were tested by solid-phase radioimmunoassay for serum markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Of 8 (10%) with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), 6 (75%) also had hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg). Antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) and to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were found in 52 (65%). Antibodies to HBeAg (anti-HBe) were positive in 32 (40%). Anti-HBc alone was found in 5 (6%) and anti-HBs alone in 2 (2%). Sixty-seven (84%) were positive for at least one HBV marker and 13 (16%) were still susceptible to infection. Hepatitis B markers were more prevalent in prostitutes than in the normal Spanish population. Age, a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), drug abuse and promiscuity are factors which were highly related to hepatitis B markers. We concluded that screening prostitutes for the presence of markers and vaccinating those who are negative would be worth while.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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