Abstract
A cross-sectional study among Japanese female commercial sex workers (CSWs) working in soaplands (massage parlours with baths) was conducted between July 1999 and June 2000. The study subjects included 135 CSWs aged from 20 to 36 years. A questionnaire included sexual characteristics in addition to real name, working name, and date of birth. We serologically or bacteriologically confirmed prevalences of HIV-1, HIV-2, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, syphilis, and trichomonads. Anti-HCV positive was 0.7%. Although anti-HBs positive was 15.6% no HBsAg was confirmed. Seroprevalence of C. trachomatis was 8.9% and of syphilis was 4.4%. The other STDs studied were not detected. A statistically significant difference was observed between middle-class CSWs and high-class ones about condom use (P < 0.01). Prevalences of STDs among Japanese female CSWs working in middle- and high-class soaplands were evidently lower than those reported previously.