Abstract
BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cause serious health problems and have an impact on the Indonesian economy. In addition, the rapid epidemic growth of HIV is continuing in Indonesia. Commercial sex plays a significant role in the spread of HIV; therefore, in order to reveal the current HIV prevalence rate among commercial sex workers (CSWs), we conducted an epidemiological study on HIV infection among CSWs residing in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province of Indonesia with large communities of CSWs.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe prevalence of HIV infection among 200 CSWs was studied. In addition, the subtype of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and the prevalence of other blood-borne viruses, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and GB virus C (GBV-C), were studied. The prevalence rates of HIV, hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-HCV antibodies and anti-GBV-C antibodies were 11%, 64%, 4%, 0.5% and 0% among CSWs involved in this study, respectively. HIV-1 CRF01_AE viral gene fragments were detected in most HIV-positive samples. In addition, most CSWs showed low awareness of sexually transmitted diseases and had unprotected sex with their clients.Conclusions/SignificanceThe HIV prevalence rate among CSWs was significantly higher than that among the general population in Indonesia (0.2–0.4%). In addition, CSWs were at a high risk of exposure to HBV, although chronic HBV infection was less frequently established. Our results suggest the necessity of efficient prevention programs for HIV and other blood-borne viral infections among CSWs in Surabaya, Indonesia.
Highlights
According to the report from the Joint United Nations Programme on Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (UNAIDS), the number of people newly infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to fall year by year globally; rapid epidemic growth of HIV is continuing in several countries [1]
Our study revealed that the prevalence rate of HIV infection among commercial sex workers (CSWs) residing in Surabaya was significantly higher (11%) than that among the general population in Indonesia (0.2–0.4%) [1]
A previous study conducted in Jakarta and Bali in 2006–2008 revealed that the HIV prevalence rate among female CSWs residing in these Indonesian cities was 7.7% [15]
Summary
According to the report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the number of people newly infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to fall year by year globally; rapid epidemic growth of HIV is continuing in several countries [1]. In Indonesia, the number of people living with HIV was estimated to be 380,000 at the end of 2011, and 55,000 people were newly infected with HIV in 2011. The estimated number of people living with HIV markedly increased (3166.7%) from 12,000 people in 2001 to 380,000 people in 2011 in this country [1]. Uncertainty in the estimation of the number of people living with HIV in Indonesia is apparent [1], suggesting the importance of accumulating more epidemiological data in Indonesia. The sexual transmission of HIV has apparently increased in Indonesia [5,6]. Viral subtyping to reveal the prevalent strains of HIV-1 as well as an epidemiological study on the prevalence of other blood-borne viruses, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and GB virus C (GBV-C), were carried out
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