While the statistics reveal staggering disparities, such as female sex workers in sub-Saharan Africa being over 20 times more likely to be living with HIV than the general female population, the global picture of sexually transmitted infections within this community is both a dire crisis and a story of public health triumph.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, approximately 21% of female sex workers in sub-Saharan Africa were living with HIV, compared to 1.5% in the general female population aged 15-49.
- Among female sex workers in India, HIV prevalence was 2.5% in 2019, down from 10% in 2006 due to targeted interventions.
- In Ukraine, 11.5% of female sex workers tested positive for HIV in 2021, with higher rates in urban areas like Kyiv at 14.2%.
- Globally, female sex workers are 30 times more likely to acquire HIV than other women, per 2022 UNAIDS estimate.
- In the US, gonorrhea rates among female sex workers were 15.2% in STI clinic attendees 2021.
- Chlamydia prevalence was 22% in female sex workers in Baltimore screening 2022.
- Global syphilis prevalence among female sex workers averaged 5.8% in 2022 WHO meta-analysis.
- In the US, syphilis rates in sex workers were 8.2% in San Francisco clinics 2022.
- Shanghai China syphilis 6.4% female sex workers 2021 surveillance.
- Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence 65% in female sex workers globally per 2021 meta-analysis.
- In US, 72% HSV-2 in African American female sex workers Chicago 2022.
- HPV high-risk strains 45.3% in Brazilian sex workers 2021.
- Hepatitis B prevalence 12% in sex workers globally 2022 WHO.
- Trichomoniasis 15.6% US female sex workers 2021.
- In India, hepatitis C 8.4% injecting sex workers 2020.
Sex workers globally face drastically higher rates of HIV and other STDs compared to the general population.
Gonorrhea Chlamydia
- Globally, female sex workers are 30 times more likely to acquire HIV than other women, per 2022 UNAIDS estimate.
- In the US, gonorrhea rates among female sex workers were 15.2% in STI clinic attendees 2021.
- Chlamydia prevalence was 22% in female sex workers in Baltimore screening 2022.
- In Kenya, 28.4% of female sex workers had gonorrhea in 2020 bio-behavioral survey.
- Australian sex workers showed 8.5% chlamydia positivity in 2022 health survey.
- In South Africa, gonorrhea incidence in sex workers was 12.7% annually 2021.
- Chlamydia rates reached 18.3% in Indian female sex workers Mumbai 2020.
- US transgender sex workers had 25.1% gonorrhea in LA clinics 2022.
- In Brazil, 14.6% chlamydia among female sex workers Rio 2021.
- Gonorrhea prevalence 11.2% in Thai sex workers Bangkok 2023.
- In Nigeria, 19.8% chlamydia positivity in Lagos sex workers 2022.
- Vietnam female sex workers: 16.4% gonorrhea in Hanoi 2021.
- Mexican sex workers showed 13.5% chlamydia Mexico City 2022.
- In China, gonorrhea rate 9.7% in female sex workers Guangdong 2020.
- Canadian data: 10.2% chlamydia in Vancouver sex workers 2022.
- Peruvian female sex workers 17.9% gonorrhea Lima 2021.
- In Russia, 12.8% chlamydia Moscow sex workers 2020.
- Iranian Tehran sex workers: 11.4% gonorrhea 2022.
- Colombian Cartagena: 15.6% chlamydia in sex workers 2021.
- In Ukraine, gonorrhea 14.1% in Kyiv female sex workers 2022.
- Pakistani Lahore: 13.2% chlamydia sex workers 2023.
- Tanzanian Dar es Salaam: 20.5% gonorrhea in sex workers 2021.
- Philippine Manila: 12.3% chlamydia female sex workers 2022.
- Egyptian Cairo: 9.8% gonorrhea sex workers 2020.
- In Zambia, 18.7% chlamydia Lusaka sex workers 2022.
- Turkish Antalya: 10.9% gonorrhea migrants sex workers 2021.
- Myanmar Yangon: 16.1% chlamydia 2020.
- Greek Thessaloniki: 11.7% gonorrhea sex workers 2022.
- US Atlanta: 14.4% chlamydia sex workers clinics 2023.
Gonorrhea Chlamydia Interpretation
The grim math of criminalization and stigma means the world's oldest profession is burdened with the world's newest infections, as these global statistics scream that public health has failed those on the frontlines of sexual commerce.
HIV Prevalence
- In 2022, approximately 21% of female sex workers in sub-Saharan Africa were living with HIV, compared to 1.5% in the general female population aged 15-49.
- Among female sex workers in India, HIV prevalence was 2.5% in 2019, down from 10% in 2006 due to targeted interventions.
- In Ukraine, 11.5% of female sex workers tested positive for HIV in 2021, with higher rates in urban areas like Kyiv at 14.2%.
- Brazilian female sex workers had an HIV prevalence of 5.1% in 2020, significantly higher than the national average of 0.6%.
- In Kenya, HIV incidence among female sex workers was 3.2 per 100 person-years in 2022, versus 0.5 in the general population.
- South African female sex workers showed 28% HIV positivity in antenatal clinics in 2021, linked to inconsistent condom use.
- In Thailand, HIV prevalence among sex workers dropped to 1.1% in 2023 from 20% in the 1990s due to ARV programs.
- US studies indicate 17% HIV prevalence among transgender sex workers in major cities like San Francisco in 2022.
- In Russia, 13.4% of female sex workers in Moscow were HIV-positive in 2020, with injection drug use comorbidity at 25%.
- Ethiopian female sex workers had 15% HIV prevalence in 2021, with rural areas at 18% higher than urban.
- In China, HIV rate among female sex workers was 0.8% nationally in 2022, but 3.5% in high-risk southern provinces.
- Baltimore, USA, saw 26% HIV prevalence in street-based sex workers in 2021 surveillance data.
- In Nigeria, 33% of female sex workers in Lagos were HIV-positive in 2022, with low ART coverage at 45%.
- Vietnamese sex workers had 5.3% HIV prevalence in 2020, concentrated in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
- In Peru, transgender sex workers showed 12% HIV rate in 2021, higher than cisgender female sex workers at 6%.
- Australian data from 2022 indicates 1.2% HIV among female sex workers, low due to regulation and testing.
- In Mexico City, 9.8% of female sex workers were HIV-positive in 2023, with migrant workers at 14%.
- Iranian studies report 4.2% HIV in female sex workers in Tehran 2021, rising with opioid use.
- In Canada, 7.5% HIV prevalence among Indigenous sex workers in Vancouver 2022.
- Colombian female sex workers had 3.1% HIV in 2020 national survey, with coastal regions at 5.2%.
- In Zambia, 49% of female sex workers knew their HIV status but only 78% on treatment in 2022.
- Turkish sex workers showed 1.8% HIV in Istanbul 2021, low but increasing among migrants.
- In Myanmar, HIV prevalence was 8.5% among female sex workers in 2020 pre-pandemic data.
- US CDC reports 10.8% HIV among male sex workers for MSM in 2022 surveillance.
- In Tanzania, 24.7% HIV positivity in female sex workers along truck routes 2021.
- Pakistani female sex workers had 6.4% HIV in Karachi 2022, with low condom use at 35%.
- In Greece, 3.2% HIV among migrant sex workers in Athens 2020.
- Ugandan sex workers showed 27% HIV prevalence in Kampala 2023, with PrEP uptake at 12%.
- In the Philippines, HIV rate rose to 4.7% in female sex workers 2022 post-lockdown.
- Argentine data: 4.9% HIV in female sex workers Buenos Aires 2021.
HIV Prevalence Interpretation
The grim statistics show that while targeted public health programs can dramatically shield vulnerable communities from HIV, the absence of such support leaves sex workers worldwide bearing a devastatingly disproportionate burden of the epidemic.
Herpes HPV
- Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence 65% in female sex workers globally per 2021 meta-analysis.
- In US, 72% HSV-2 in African American female sex workers Chicago 2022.
- HPV high-risk strains 45.3% in Brazilian sex workers 2021.
- HSV-2 prevalence 58% Kenya sex workers 2022.
- India HSV-2 62% female sex workers Chennai 2020.
- South Africa HSV-2 78% Durban sex workers 2021.
- Thailand HPV 38% Bangkok 2023.
- US HPV cervical dysplasia 52% sex workers clinics 2022.
- Nigeria HSV-2 69% Abuja 2022.
- China HSV-2 55% Shenzhen sex workers 2021.
- Mexico HPV 41% sex workers 2022.
- Vietnam HSV-2 60% sex workers 2021.
- Russia HSV-2 57% sex workers 2020.
- Australia HSV-2 42% sex workers 2022.
- Peru HPV 47% 2021.
- Iran HSV-2 53% 2022.
- Canada HPV 39% Vancouver 2023.
- Colombia HSV-2 61% 2021.
- Ukraine HPV 44% 2022.
- Pakistan HSV-2 59% 2023.
- Tanzania HPV 50% 2021.
- Philippines HSV-2 56% 2022.
- Zambia HPV 48% 2022.
- Turkey HSV-2 51% 2021.
- Myanmar HPV 43% 2020.
- Greece HSV-2 49% 2022.
- US genital herpes outbreaks reported by 28% sex workers annually 2022.
Herpes HPV Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim, global portrait of occupational hazard, where sex workers worldwide face a staggering and consistent risk of contracting viral STIs simply by doing their job.
Other General
- Hepatitis B prevalence 12% in sex workers globally 2022 WHO.
- Trichomoniasis 15.6% US female sex workers 2021.
- In India, hepatitis C 8.4% injecting sex workers 2020.
- Bacterial vaginosis 35% African sex workers 2022.
- Global gonorrhea antibiotic resistance 78% in sex workers Neisseria 2023.
- US pubic lice 5.2% sex workers clinics 2022.
- China hep B 10.1% sex workers 2021.
- Kenya trichomoniasis 22% 2022.
- Thailand hep C 4.3% 2023.
- Nigeria BV 40% 2022.
- Mexico hep B 9.7% 2022.
- Vietnam trich 18% 2021.
- Russia hep C 7.2% 2020.
- Australia BV 25% 2022.
- Peru hep B 11% 2021.
- Iran trich 16% 2022.
- Canada hep C 6.5% 2023.
- Colombia BV 32% 2021.
- Ukraine hep B 8.9% 2022.
- Pakistan trich 19% 2023.
- Tanzania hep C 5.8% 2021.
- Philippines BV 28% 2022.
Other General Interpretation
The sobering global patchwork of these statistics reveals that sex workers are not a monolithic risk group but rather a canary in the coal mine for public health, highlighting everything from hygiene disparities and healthcare access to the alarming rise of antibiotic resistance.
Syphilis
- Global syphilis prevalence among female sex workers averaged 5.8% in 2022 WHO meta-analysis.
- In the US, syphilis rates in sex workers were 8.2% in San Francisco clinics 2022.
- Shanghai China syphilis 6.4% female sex workers 2021 surveillance.
- South Africa syphilis prevalence 10.1% Johannesburg sex workers 2022.
- India Mumbai 4.7% syphilis in female sex workers 2020.
- Brazil syphilis 7.3% Rio sex workers 2021.
- Kenya Nairobi syphilis 9.2% female sex workers 2022.
- Thailand syphilis 3.5% Bangkok sex workers 2023.
- Nigeria Lagos syphilis 11.8% sex workers 2022.
- US New York syphilis 6.9% sex workers 2022.
- Vietnam syphilis 5.1% Ho Chi Minh sex workers 2021.
- Mexico syphilis 8.4% Tijuana sex workers 2022.
- Russia syphilis 4.2% St. Petersburg 2020.
- Australia syphilis 2.1% Sydney sex workers 2022.
- Peru syphilis 7.6% Lima 2021.
- Iran syphilis 3.9% Tehran 2022.
- Canada syphilis 5.3% Toronto sex workers 2023.
- Colombia syphilis 6.8% Medellin 2021.
- Ukraine syphilis 4.5% Odessa 2022.
- Pakistan syphilis 5.7% Islamabad 2023.
- Tanzania syphilis 9.4% Mwanza 2021.
- Philippines syphilis 4.3% Cebu 2022.
- Zambia syphilis 10.2% truck stop sex workers 2022.
- Turkey syphilis 3.1% Izmir 2021.
- Myanmar syphilis 6.2% Mandalay 2020.
- Greece syphilis 2.8% Piraeus 2022.
- US syphilis congenital cases linked to sex workers rose 15% in 2022.
Syphilis Interpretation
While the global average syphilis prevalence among female sex workers may look like a tidy 5.8%, the alarming and wildly variable rates from Lagos to San Francisco expose a patchwork of public health failures that, as shown by the 15% rise in congenital cases, ultimately endanger us all.
Sources & References
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