A cross-sectional study was carried out during January-June 2004 to
assess the status of HIV infection among brothel-based sex workers in
Kolkata city, India. Six hundred and twenty-two sex workers, selected
from six brothels, were included in the study to assess their HIV
status, and 362 sex workers, a subset of the above population, were
interviewed to study their risk behaviour and practices. Blood samples
were collected from each sex worker for testing HIV by an unlinked
anonymous method. The prevalence of HIV infection was 9.6%, but was
much higher among younger sex workers aged 20 years or less (27.7%)
compared to the older age group (8.4%). This difference was
statistically significant, indicating an association of younger ages
with HIV infection [p=0.006 and odds ratio (OR)=4.18; (95% confidence
interval (CI) 1.2-13.8)]. HIV was not associated with duration of sex
work, average number of clients entertained per day, condom use,
practice of sex during menstruation, precoital examination of penis for
visible ulcer/discharge, suffering from sexually transmitted
infections, and entertaining clients outside the brothel. There was a
big gap between the reported and the evaluated condom use by sex
workers. The results suggest that there is a need to develop suitable
HIV intervention strategies, considering the socioeconomic and cultural
aspects of city sex workers, with a provision for continuous monitoring
and evaluation