Sexually transmitted infections in inmates in Merida Venezuela

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexual risk behaviors are prevalent in incarcerated women. This study showed that STIs were more frequent in female prisoners (66.6%) than in women in freedom (p <= 0.001). Only the group of incarcerated women presented a combination of STIs (39%) (p <= 0.019), being significant the combination of HPV (p <= 0.007) and Chlamycha trachomatis (p <= 0.003) with other causative agents. HPV and Chlamydia trachomatis were more frequent in female prisoners (35.7%), while in non-incarcerated women occurred in 9.5% (p <= 0.004) and 7.1%, respectively (p <= 0.001). The inmates presented a combination of different HPV genotypes (p <= 0.011) Treponema pallidum presented in 7.1% of prisoners and it was negative in free ones. Hepatitis B virus was present in 9.5% of inmates and negative in free women (p <= 0.040). Markers for hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were negative in both groups; herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV) were found in 9.5% of the inmates and in 7.1% of free women. The consumption of tobacco, alcohol and the use of other drugs showed a frequency of 100%, 89.3% and 78.6%, respectively, of female prisoners and of 40%, 30% and 10% in free women (p <= 0.001). The number of sexual partners in relation to the presence of STIs between both groups showed significance for a number of two or more partners (p <0.006). A high prevalence of single or mixed STIs was observed in female prisoners, as well as factors associated with risky sexual behaviors.