OBJECTIVES: This study tried to determine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevalences among female commercial sex workers in Mexico City. METHODS: A sampling frame was constructed that included bars, massage parlors, and street corners. RESULTS: Prevalences for Treponema pallidum, herpes simplex virus type 2, HIV, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Chlamydia trachomatis were 6.4%, 65%, 0.6%, 3.7%, and 11.1%, respectively. A significant association was found between higher STD frequencies and working at street sites. CONCLUSIONS: Most STD frequencies were lower in comparison with rates found for female sex workers in other countries. However, preventive programs against STD/ HIV are needed in this population.

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Objective. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is becoming a chronic disease in 60-85% of individuals and is a cause of hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The objective of this study was to report the seroprevalence of HCV infection in a probabilistic sample of the Mexican population. Material and Methods. This study is based on information obtained from the National Health Survey conducted in 2000. A total of 21 271 sera randomly selected for anti-HCV and RNA of HCV was studied. It was performed at the National Institute of Public Health in 2005. Results. Seroprevalence of HCV antibodies was 1.4% (IC95% 1.1%-1.6%), of which 35.7% had active infection. Risk factors for infection were using heroine (RM= 9.8, IC: 2.1-41.4), being separated from his/her spouse (RM= 2.6, IC: 1.1-5.9), being a widower (RM= 2.2, IC: 1.1-4.3) and living in the northern states in the country (RM= 1.9, IC: 1.1-3.2). Conclusion. Results from this study indicate that HCV is an emerging public health problem in Mexico. Risk factors indicate that the main route of transmission is through transfusion of blood products (previous to 1996) and the second route is through usage of intravenous drugs and sexual practices.

Objective. To estimate the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection and carrier status in Mexico; to analyze the frequency and distribution of hepatitis B markers in relation to the demographic and geographic variables and to identify risk factors. Materials and Methods. A total of 12 014 sera samples from the 2000 National Health Survey that were randomly selected for Anti-HB c and HBsAg were studied. The sera were collected between November 1999 and June 2000 on a national level. Results. Seroprevalence for anti-HB c and HBsAg were 3.3% (CI 95%: 2.8-3.9) and 0.21% (0.11-0.37), respectively. Odds ratios adjusted by age for anti-HB c were: 15.3 for subjects 50 to 59 years old as compared with adults less than 29 years of age; 2.6 for residents in the southern region of the country as compared with residents in the central region; 4.6 for laborers as compared with business owners; 2.1 for women having had stillbirths; and 1.7 for adults having initiated sexual relations before 25 years of age. Conclusion. The epidemiological pattern for hepatitis B in Mexico is lower than the data worldwide. Nevertheless, it is of concern that 1.7 million Mexicans have suffered from the infection caused by this virus and 107 000 suffer from a chronic carrier status.

HBV genotype H is highly predominant in HBV isolates of Mexico followed by genotypes G, A and D. A low frequency of precore and core promoter mutations is observed in HBV Mexican isolates.

HBV genotypic resistance to lamivudine exists in Mexican isolates. The results highlight the importance of testing for HBV resistance before treatment and have implications for a more rational use of drugs.

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Objetivo. Estimar la seroprevalencia de VIH en población mexicana no institucionalizada de 15 a 49 años, y aspectos selectos del perfil de la población serorreactiva. Material y métodos. Estudio transversal con una muestra probabilística de la población del país de 15 a 49 años, con información sobre comportamientos obtenida por entrevista directa en los hogares y determinación de anticuerpos para VIH en sangre capilar. Resultados. Se identificó una seroprevalencia de 0.15% (IC95% 0.09-0.21) en la población de 15 a 49 años; de 0.07% (IC95% 0.03-0.11) en mujeres, y de 0.24% (IC95% 0.11-0.36) en hombres. La población serorreactiva a VIH son hombres jóvenes, de mayor nivel socioeconómico en relación con la población general y con información que sugiere una mayor cobertura por la seguridad social (49.9% en serorreactivos contra 34.5% en no serorreactivos). El 49.4% de los serorreactivos contra 18.5% de los no serorreactivos se había realizado al menos una prueba de detección de VIH. Conclusiones. La seroprevalencia de VIH estimada en la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición (Ensanut) 2012 sugiere que ésta se ha mantenido relativamente estable desde 2000. La estimación representa alrededor de 104000 personas (rango de entre 53000 y 126000) de 15 a 49 años que viven con VIH en México (75% de los cuales son hombres), de los que 50.6% desconocería su estatus serológico. Implementando un modelo de corrección de sesgo y agregando a los estimados en hogar, los casos estimados entre población de hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (tanto homosexual como bisexual), la estimación de la seroprevalencia alcanzaría 0.23%, con un total de 140000 personas de 15 a 49 años viviendo con VIH (con un intervalo estimado de entre 92000 y 201000 personas).