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 seroprevalenceof certain STI (HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis) and the general characteristicsn 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 1 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.
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 seroprevalenceof certain STI (HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis) and the general characteristicsn 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 1 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.