Female sex workers (FSWs) represent a high vulnerability group for the acquisition of sexual and parenteral infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of serological markers and risk factors associated with exposure to HBV and HCV among FSWs in the state of Pará, Brazil. A cross‐sectional study using principles of the time location sampling (TLS) method was conducted in four cities (Belém, Bragança, Barcarena, and Augusto Corrêa) of the state of Pará, from 2005 to 2006. In total, 365 FSWs were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. Blood samples were collected and tested for serological markers of exposure to HBV and HCV using an enzyme immunoassay. The overall prevalence of exposure to HBV and HCV was 36.7% and 7.7%, respectively. The prevalence of surface antigen of HBV was 3.0%. The prevalence of anti‐HBc and anti‐HBc+ anti‐HBs antibodies were 6.3% and 27.4%. Very few (4.7%) FSWs had vaccine immunity against HBV (anti‐HBs antibodies only). The prevalence of anti‐HCV antibodies was 7.7%. Low monthly income, drug usage, and unprotected sex were some of the social characteristics associated with exposure to the viruses using different analysis. The seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infections among FSWs in four cities of the state of Pará is high when compared to the general population of Brazil, but similar to those found in FSWs in other nondeveloped countries. The prevalence of HBV was higher in Belém, while the prevalence of HCV was higher in the other three cities, highlighting the importance of establishing control and prevention programs to reduce the risk of acquiring these viruses in Pará.

中文翻译：

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巴西北部帕拉州四个城市女性性工作者的 HBV 和 HCV 血清阳性率

女性性工作者（FSW）是感染乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）和丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）等性感染和肠外感染的高危人群。本研究旨在确定巴西帕拉州 FSW 中与 HBV 和 HCV 暴露相关的血清学标志物和危险因素的流行情况。2005 年至 2006 年，在帕拉州的四个城市（贝伦、布拉干萨、巴卡雷纳和奥古斯托·科雷亚）进行了一项采用时间地点抽样 (TLS) 方法原理的横断面研究。总共采访了 365 名 FSW使用标准化问卷。收集血样并使用酶免疫测定法检测乙肝病毒和丙肝病毒暴露的血清学标志物。乙型肝炎病毒和丙型肝炎病毒的总体暴露率分别为36.7%和7.7%。HBV表面抗原患病率为3.0%。抗 HBc 和抗 HBc+ 抗 HBs 抗体的患病率分别为 6.3% 和 27.4%。极少数 (4.7%) FSW 具有针对 HBV 的疫苗免疫力（仅抗 HBs 抗体）。抗HCV抗体的患病率为7.7%。根据不同的分析，月收入低、吸毒和无保护性行为是与接触病毒相关的一些社会特征。与巴西总人口相比，帕拉州四个城市的 FSW 中 HBV 和 HCV 感染的血清流行率较高，但与其他非发达国家的 FSW 中发现的情况相似。贝伦的乙肝病毒感染率较高，而其他三个城市的丙肝病毒感染率较高，这凸显了制定控制和预防计划以降低帕拉州感染这些病毒的风险的重要性。