Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies and Hepatitis B Antigen Among Commercial Sex Workers in Japan

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and of hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen in commercial sex workers (CSW) who attended a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Tokyo. Methods: Surveys were conducted on 308 CSW and 384 control subjects for HIV antibody or 241 control subjects for HBs antibody and antigen and HCV antibody. Results: HIV antibodywas not detected in either CSW or control subjects. The positive rates for HBs antigen and antibody were 0.6 and 23.4%, respectively, in the CSW group, and 0.4 and 71.8% in the control group. The HCV antibody positive rate was 3.2% in the CSW group and 0.4% in the control group. Conclusion: A statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed only in HCV antibody positive rate. STD checkup for CSW alone is inadequate – STD health education and screening for the general public are also required.