N Z Med J. 2026 Mar 13;139(1631):28-37. doi: 10.26635/6965.7213.
ABSTRACT
AIM: We aimed to describe demographics and rates of diagnoses of blood-borne viruses and other sexually transmitted infections (STBBI) in sex workers attending an outreach clinic in Auckland.
METHODS: Sex workers attending an outreach clinic in Auckland from 31 December 2018 to 31 December 2020 were eligible for inclusion. Gonorrhoea and chlamydia rates in sex workers were compared to rates in two comparator groups: attendees to general sexual health clinics and a population-based sample.
RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-six sex workers were eligible for inclusion. The majority were cisgender-gender females (93.5%, n=333). Test positive rates for chlamydia (5.1%) and gonorrhoea (3.9%) in cisgender-female sex workers were lower than for females attending general sexual health clinics. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea rates were higher in transgender-female sex workers than in cisgender-female sex workers, but the numbers were small (n=14). Of the 159 sex worker participants tested for hepatitis C antibody, 25 were antibody positive (15.7%).
CONCLUSIONS: Cisgender-female sex workers had lower rates of diagnosis of chlamydia and gonorrhoea than females attending general sexual health clinics. STBBI testing in sex workers should routinely include assessment and testing for hepatitis C. The data indicate that sex workers should continue to be a priority population in the STBBI strategy.
PMID:41818758 | DOI:10.26635/6965.7213
