Low prevalence of hepatitis B markers among Mexican female sex workers

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological markers in female sex workers (FSW) in Mexico City. Methods: The study population consisted of 1498 FSW who attended a detection centre for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Mexico City, between January and October 1992. Study participants responded to a standardised questionnaire and provided a blood sample for serology of syphilis, HIV, and HBV. Results: A total of 0.2% (95% CI 0.1-0.3) of the population were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers. The general prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) was 6.3% (95% CI 5.5-7.1). This marker of previous exposition to HBV, was independently associated by logistic regression multivariate analysis with age, working in the street, and history of blood transfusion (BT) before 1987 (OR 4.8, 95% CI 2.1-11.3). Syphilis prevalence was 7.6% (95% CI 6.2-8.9) and HIV prevalence was 0.1% (95% CI 0-0.3). Conclusions:The prevalence of HBV infection in this group of Mexican FSW is lower than previously reported in other countries. In addition, the frequency of HBsAg carriers is similar to that in the general Mexican population. The absence of two major risk factors for HBV transmission in this group of FSW-that is, injecting drug use and anal intercourse, could help to explain this finding. However, the positive association between anti-HBc and history of blood transfusion demonstrated here, highlights the need to reinforce strict control of blood supplies in Mexico. (Sex Transm Inf 1998;74:448-450)

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and related risk factors in a rural community of Mexico.

“…The prevalence that was found in San Juanito is higher for young women when compared with Mexican female sex workers, although after the age of 33 years, the prevalence is lower in this community. 1 Prevalence is also higher in the population of San Juanito than the one observed in pregnant women in Mexico City, 11 in pregnant Mexican American women in San Francisco, 12 and in Hispanic and non-Hispanic women seeking gynecological care. 13 It is also substantially higher in the children of San Juanito than in children of the same age group (5-17 years) living in the Texas-Mexico border (5.2% versus 1%).…”

“…It has been considered that Mexico has a low prevalence of hepatitis B, 1 although recent estimates have suggested that its prevalence may be similar to the one observed in Central and South America countries. 2 The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), conducted in the United States in 1988-1994, showed a higher prevalence of hepatitis B infection in Mexican Americans when compared with the non-Hispanic white population of that country, mainly in those citizens Ն 50 years of age.…”

A low steady HBsAg seroprevalence is associated with a low incidence of HBV-related liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in Mexico: a systematic review

“…Risk factors determined by univariate or multivariate analysis and associated to anti-HBc prevalence by odds ratio (OR) were reported in general population [35], pregnant women [61], healthcare workers [66], and female sex workers [73]. The main risk factors were (i) age at first sexual intercourse above 25 years in general population and in pregnant women, with a reported OR of 3.24 (95% CI, 1.44-7.28) and 5.1 (95% CI, 1.4-19.1), respectively; and (ii) age above 33 years in female sex workers with an OR of 5.4 (2.2-13.0).…”

“…[7] c Ref. [35] workers [62][63][64][65][66][67], females sex workers [68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75], patients with liver diseases [29,40,76,77], hemodialysis patients [78,79], emergency department attendees [80], and psychiatric patients [81] are depicted in Table 2. The estimates from the native Mexican population [82][83][84] are also included in this group based on an HBsAg seroprevalence higher than the general population and blood donors.…”

Consideraciones técnicas y conceptuales acerca de la seroprevalencia de hepatitis B en embarazadas

“…Por lo tanto, el dato de la aparentemente elevada prevalencia del AgsHB entre las mujeres del estudio referido debe ser tomado con reserva. La prevalencia de ese marcador en poblaciones mexicanas de mucho mayor riesgo para hepatitis B como son trabajadoras del sexo comercial, 5,6 y hombres que tienen sexo con hombres, 7 se ha encontrado de manera global entre 0.2 y 1.9%, confirmando los positivo por neutralización.…”