Document 0917
 DOCN  M94A0917
 TI    HIV infection amongst commercial sex workers (CSW) of Calcutta. A period
       of 3 years study.
 DT    9412
 AU    Paul S; Chakrabarty S; Chakrabarti T; Chakrabarty MS; School of Tropical
       Medicine, Virology Department, Calcutta.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(2):251 (abstract no. PC0367). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94371658
 AB    OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to determine the trend of HIV
       infection amongst commercial sex workers in Calcutta since
       heterosexuality has been found to be a dominant pathway of HIV
       transmission in India. METHODS: Cases: Commercial sex workers of
       different red light areas of Calcutta were selected at random for
       collection of blood between 1991 to 1993. Samples of sera were tested
       for presence of HIV-ab by ELISA followed by Western Blot test systems
       for confirmation. RESULTS: Out of 3,300 samples screened 33 (1%) were
       positive for HIV-ab by Western Blot. Yearwise break up showed rate of
       positivity to be 0.53%, 0.7% and 1.6% in 1991, 1992 and 1993
       respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Within a span of only 2 years
       seropositivity rate has risen from 0.5% to 1.6% which is an indication
       of possible threat of epidemic in future unless preventive measures are
       undertaken at right earnest. The evidence of HIV infection was noticed
       only in 1991 onwards although the prostitute is an organised profession
       in the city for centuries. Details will be presented in the scientific
       session of the conference.
 DE    Human  HIV Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY  HIV Seroprevalence
       India/EPIDEMIOLOGY  *Prostitution  CLINICAL TRIAL  MEETING ABSTRACT
       RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

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