A key issue in the prevention and control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) is to provide access to health centres, and in diagnosing and treating STD. The present study is aimed to assess the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a population of immigrant female sex workers (FSWs). We conducted a cross sectional survey of FSWs working in Verona, North-eastern Italy. Screening test included serology for STDs [including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), syphilis and Hepatitis B virus (HBV)] and hepatitis C virus (HCV).Sixteen out of 345 (4.6%) street FSWs screened during 1999-2007 resulted positive for HIV, 12 (3.5%) were positive for HBsAg, 7 (2.0%) were positive for syphilis serological test, and 3 (0.9%) were positive for HCV. Comparison of the prevalence data between women from Africa (286/345, 82.8%) and other countries showed no statistical difference for HIV infection (R.R. 1.44; 95% CI, 0.34-6.19) and for presence of HBsAg (R.R. 2.27; 95% CI, 0.30-17.24). The positivity of syphilis serologic tests had a lower prevalence among African FSWs (mostly coming from Nigeria) than among FSWs from Eastern Europe (57/345, 16.5%). This difference was statistically significant (R.R. 0.03; 95% CI, 0.00-0.28). The prevalence of HIV infection increased with age (p=0.04, by chi2 for trend analysis), but not with the time worked as sex workers in Italy. Moreover, the presence of any of the screened infections was predictable by both age and earlier time of immigration by way of logistic multivariable regression.The prevalence of HIV and HBsAg was higher in the whole analyzed cohort compared to the general population; prevalence of syphilis was significantly higher in FSWs from Eastern Europe than in FSWs from Africa. HCV prevalence remains low among non intravenous drug abuser FSWs. The data offers a starting point to address targeted intervention that would prevent FSWs acquiring and transmitting STDs.

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The results obtained from the training and follow-up of 189 IDUs who participated in a programme consisting of an audiovisual presentation, pre-/post-testing and individual counselling are presented. Syringe sharing decreased from 35% at initial contact to 12% after 6 months. Sexual behaviour proved more resistant to change. However, condom use in at-risk situations increased from 49% to 70%. IDUs under continuous methadone treatment were less likely to engage high risk drug injecting practices than the other IDUs. Results indicate that an educational programme addressed toward risk reduction may determine relevant behavioural change among IDUs.

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The Social Problem Questionnaire (SPQ) was completed by 132 Italian married couples who were part of a stratified community sample of 207 families. Agreement between husbands and wives on problems in housing, finance, marriage, family and social relationships was assessed by product moment correlation coefficients, weighted kappas, specific agreement indices and three way analysis of variance. The results showed that couples agreed well on the absence but not on the presence of social problems. Although husbands' and wives' ratings on the severity of problems correlated significantly, wives consistently tended to give higher ratings than their husbands. The implications of these results for social research and community surveys are briefly discussed.