Volume 9, Number 3, 248-253, DOI: 10.1007/s10156-003-0257-3

Sexually transmitted diseases in Japanese female commercial sex workers working in massage parlors with cell baths

Motonobu Miyazaki, Akira Babazono, Masumi Kato, Shigeru Takagi, Hiroshi Chimura and Hiroshi Une

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Abstract

A cross-sectional study of Japanese female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) working in massage parlors with cell baths (MPCBs) was conducted between July 1999 and December 2001. The study subjects were 171 FCSWs aged from 19 to 36 years. A questionnaire included sexual characteristics in addition to working name and date of birth. We serologically or bacteriologically confirmed the prevalence of HIV-1, HIV-2, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. There were no differences in the clinical characteristics of FCSWs working in standard-class MPCBs (group A) and those working in expensive-class MPCBs (group B). With respect to sexual characteristics, HIV-1 and HIV-2 were not confirmed in any subjects, but N. gonorrhoeae was detected in 1.2%. Use of condoms was 98.4% in group A and 83.3% in group B (P < 0.01). No HIV infection and an extremely low prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were recognized in Japanese FCSWs working in standard- and expensive-class MPCBs.

Key words  Japanese female commercial sex worker - Sex fee - Human immunodeficiency virus infection - Sexually transmitted disease

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