[Prostitutes of the east sector of Santiago: characteristics and pathology of sexual transmission]. / Las prostitutas del sector oriente de Santiago: características y patología de trasmision sexual.

ABSTRACT

PIP: A sample of 329 prostitutes from the eastern area of Santiago, Chile, who attended the Dermatology Service of the Salvador Hospital in January-February 1988 were studied to determine the current incidence of sexually transmitted disease among prostitutes. Approximately 600 prostitutes attend the service for required monthly health examinations. The 329 women worked in established locales such as saunas, massage parlors, and nightclubs. None were uncontrolled street prostitutes. The average age was 24.3 years. 68% were single, 17% were separated, and 15% were married. Only 14% had no more than primary education, and half had high school or college educations. The average parity was 1.52. 83% used contraception. 31% used oral contraceptives (OCs), 21% used injectables, 24% used IUDs, and 7% used other methods. The average number of sexual contacts per day was 2.87. 54% always used condoms, 36% occasionally did so, and 10% never did so. The estimated number of monthly sexual contracts/woman was 65. 22% of the women had some sort of genital pathology. No cases of HIV infection were seen. 9.7% were diagnosed with trichomonas, 4.6% with unspecified vulvovaginitis, 3.3% with candidiasis, 1.8% with syphilis, 1.5% with gonorrhea, .9% with condyloma acuminata, and .3% with active herpes. The frequency of vaginitis did no appear to be associated with the number of sexual contacts, but other pathologies were more common in women with more partners. Women who always used condoms were only half as likely to have genital pathologies or vaginitis as women who never used condoms.