Table 1.
Distribution of demographic, sexual behavior, and genital tract infection characteristics in HIV-1-uninfected and HIV-1-infected CSWs, and HIV-1-uninfected non-CSW control subjects
| HIV-1-uninfected CSWs | HIV-1-infected CSWs | HIV-1-uninfected non-CSW controls | P-value a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N=57 | N=52 | N=73 | ||
| Age, mean (s.d.), years | 34.3 (12) | 33.5 (10.1) | 32.4 (9.4) | NS |
| Duration of sex work, mean (s.d.), years | 4.2 (3.1) | 3.8 (2.6) | NA | NS |
| Number of clients last week, mean (s.d.) | 17.1 (13.7) | 12.0 (11.0) | NA | NS |
| Days since last menses, mean (s.d.) | 14.5 (8.2) | 18.5 (15.5) | 20.7 (10.3) | NS |
| Regular partner | 32/55 (58.2%) | 31/52 (59.6%) | 59/72 (81.9%)b | 0.005 |
| Vaginal douching | 48/51 (94.1%) | 42/42 (100%) | 63/68 (92.6%) | NS |
| Condom always used with clients | 47/55 (85.5%) | 37/47 (78.7%) | NA | NS |
| Vaginosis | 21/49 (42.9%) | 24/46 (52.2%) | 22/73 (30.1%) | NS |
| Candidiasis | 5/49 (10.2%) | 6/46 (13.0%) | 14/73 (19.2%) | NS |
| NG and/or CT infection | 7/51 (13.7%) | 5/43 (11.6%) | 2/73 (2.7%) | NS |
| HSV-2-positive serology | 38/47 (80.9%) | 42/44 (95.5%) | 34/61 (55.7%) c | < 0.0001 |
CSW, commercial sex worker; HIV-1, human immunodeficiency virus type 1; HSV-2, Herpes simplex 2; N, number of participants; NA, non applicable; NS, nonsignificant; NG/CT, Neisseria gonorrhoeae/Chlamydia trachomatis.
All risk factor data were collected via a questionnaire administrated before samples were collected. Gynecological exams and biological sampling were performed by a physician without knowledge of HIV status of the women to avoid potential bias.
P-values for the comparison across all groups were calculated with one-way analysis of variance for the age, days since last menses; Mann–Whitney U-test for the duration of sex work and average number of clients; χ2 test for regular partner, vaginal douching, condom use, vaginosis, candidiasis, NG/CT, HSV-2.
P=0.005 for the comparison between HIV-1-uninfected non-CSWs and HIV-1-uninfected CSWs, and
P=0.008 for the comparison between HIV-1-uninfected non-CSWs and HIV-1-uninfected CSWs, and P=0.001 for the comparison between HIV-1-uninfected non-CSWs and HIV-1-infected CSWs.