[Risk factors for the acquisition of Sexually Transmitted Infections in sex workers: a systematic review]

OBJECTIVE

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), as their name suggests, are infections caused by more than thirty different bacteria, viruses, and parasites and are transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse, although some sexually transmitted infections can also transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth and lactation. According to World Health Organization, one of the main populations at risk for acquiring these diseases are sex workers and their clients. Due to the high prevalence, the characteristics and behaviors that favor the development of these diseases are analyzed. The main objective of this paper was to analyze the risk factors in the acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases in the population of sex workers.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in Scopus, Pubmed, CINAHL, Medline, LILACS and IBECS, of observational, longitudinal and mixed methods studies conducted in sex workers and published between January 2011 and March 2021, with a final sample of fourty-three articles. The mixed methods assessment tool (MMAT) was used to assess the methodological quality of the papers.

RESULTS

After analyzing the literature, eleven groups of risk factors related to the acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases were obtained, these being economic factors, factors related to sexual practices, drug use, sex work, education, health problems, country of origin and mobility, partner, age, violence and other factors not belonging to the previous categories.

CONCLUSIONS

Sex workers have numerous characteristics and behaviors that make them vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections. Of note are years of prostitution, drug use, number of partners and condom use, which are key factors for future prevention and intervention strategies, as well as research.