Epidemiology and Etiology of Sexually Transmitted Infection among Hotel-Based Sex Workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh

<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title> <jats:p> The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among hotel-based sex workers (HBSWs) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, was studied. A total of 400 HBSWs were enrolled in the study during April to July 2002. Endocervical swabs, high vaginal swabs, and blood samples from 400 HBSWs were examined for <jats:italic>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</jats:italic> (by culture), <jats:italic>Chlamydia trachomatis</jats:italic> (by PCR), <jats:italic>Trichomonas vaginalis</jats:italic> (by microscopy), antibody to <jats:italic>Treponema pallidum</jats:italic> (by both rapid plasma reagin and <jats:italic>Treponema pallidum</jats:italic> hemagglutination tests), and antibody to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Sociodemographic information as well as gynecological and obstetric information was collected. Among the HBSWs, 228 women (57%) were symptomatic and 172 (43%) were asymptomatic, 35.8% were positive for <jats:italic>N. gonorrhoeae</jats:italic> , 43.5% were positive for <jats:italic>C. trachomatis</jats:italic> , and 4.3% were positive for <jats:italic>T. vaginalis</jats:italic> . A total of 8.5% had syphilis, 34.5% were positive for HSV-2, and 86.8% were positive for at least one RTI or STI. There was no significant difference between the prevalences of STIs among the symptomatic and asymptomatic HBSWs. These data suggested a high prevalence of STIs, particularly gonorrhea and chlamydia, among HBSWs in Dhaka. </jats:p>