Sex workers and their clients as core groups of high frequency transmitters play a dominant role in the transmission of HIV and other
sexually transmitted diseases (
STDs). In Surabaya, Indonesia, little is known about the prevalence of
STDs in various sex establishments. We conducted an STD prevalence survey of 1873 female sex workers in Surabaya, Indonesia. We did not find any sex workers with
HIV infection. Prevalence rates of other
STDs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, serological test for
syphilis positive, and/or
trichomoniasis) in female sex workers were 48% in brothels (
n = 696), 42% on the streets (n = 192), 16% in
massage parlours (n = 344), 25% in barber shops (n = 150), 17% at call-girl houses (n = 73), and 10% in nightclubs (n = 418). Sex workers from the brothels had the highest prevalence rates of gonorrhoea (24%) and
trichomoniasis (8%), while sex workers from the streets and the barber shop had the highest rates of serological test for
syphilis (STS) positive (30%) and chlamydia (18%). STD rates decreased with an increase in age (except for STS positive), an increase in education, a decrease in the number of sex partners, and
condom use in the previous week.
Condom use in the previous week was universally low among sex workers, especially among sex workers from the brothels (14%). Sex workers from the brothels had STD rates about 4 times higher than sex workers from the nightclubs (adjusted odds ratio of 4.4). Although the HIV seroprevalence rate is currently low, widespread prostitution and high rates of
STDs in sex workers warrant programmes to avert a potential explosion of HIV transmission. Because sex workers from the brothels in Surabaya have high rates of
STDs and low use of
condoms but good cooperation with local authorities, STD preventive measures should focus on this group.