Effects of sex work on the prevalence of syphilis among injection drug users in 3 Russian cities

Lucy Platt*, Tim Rhodes, Ali Judd, Evgeniya Koshkina, Svetlana Maksimova, Natalia Latishevskaya, Adrian Renton, Tamara McDonald, John Parry

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    42 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Objectives. We examined risk factors for syphilis infection among injection drug users in 3 Russian Federation cities, focusing particular attention on the potential roles of gender and sex work. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of injection drug users in Moscow, Volgograd, and Barnaul, collecting behavioral data and testing for antibodies to Treponema pallidum. Associations between presence of antibodies to T pallidum and covariates were explored. Results. Overall, the prevalence of antibodies to T pallidum was 11% (95% confidence interval = 9.7%, 13.1%). Syphilis was associated with involvement in sex work and with gender in Moscow and Barnaul but not in Volgograd. Female injection drug users not involved in sex work were more likely than men to be younger and to have recently begun to inject; female injection drug users involved in sex work were more likely than those not involved in sex work to inject daily. Conclusions. Syphilis transmission dynamics varied by region. Sex work can increase syphilis risk among injection drug users, potentially feeding the momentum of sexually transmitted HIV and syphilis among noninjectors. Targeted interventions are needed to reduce both sexual and injection risk behaviors among injection drug users.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)478-485
    Number of pages8
    JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health
    Volume97
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2007

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