HIV infection and other sexually-transmitted infections among immigrants in Barcelona

BACKGROUND. Immigration is a recent phenomenon in Spain. Certain subgroups of the immigrant population may be vulnerable to acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STI). MATERIAL AND METHODS. Descriptive study of the seroprevalence of certain STI (HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis) and the general characteristics of persons tested for HIV infection in a specialized clinic in Barcelona during the year 2000. RESULTS. Seroprevalence of HIV was similar in immigrants and native residents(1.8% vs. 1.7% respectively). However, the seroprevalences of hepatitis B virus (anti-HBc) (19.5% vs. 8.3%) and syphilis (RPR + TPHA) (3.2% vs. 1.1%), as well as other STI and the practice of prostitution, were higher in immigrants. CONCLUSIONS. Several STI, including hepatitis B and syphilis, were found more frequently in immigrants than in the native population, whereas HIV seroprevalence was similar in the two groups.