Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ()

High-risk behaviors for hepatitis B and C infections among female sex workers

  • Marco Antonio Moreira Puga,
  • Larissa Melo Bandeira,
  • Sabrina Moreira dos Santos Weis,
  • Fernanda Rodas Pires Fernandes,
  • Lisie Souza Castro,
  • Tayana Serpa Ortiz Tanaka,
  • Grazielli Rocha de Rezende,
  • Sheila Araújo Teles,
  • Vivianne de Oliveira Landgraf de Castro,
  • Paula Guerra Murat,
  • Gina Jonasson Mousquer Capelin,
  • Ana Rita Coimbra Motta-Castro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0231-2017
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 51, no. 2
pp. 198 – 202

Abstract

Read online

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C and risk behaviors among 402 female sex workers in Central Brazil were investigated by respondent-driven sampling. METHODS: Blood samples were tested for hepatitis B and C markers by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Two hepatitis B vaccination schedules were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections were 9.3% and 0.5%, respectively. Susceptibility to hepatitis B infection was observed in 61.5% of subjects. There was no significant difference in adherence index (p=0.52) between vaccination schedules and all participants had protective antibody titers. CONCLUSIONS: This hard-to-reach population requires hepatitis B and C surveillance.

Keywords