NZ sex workers may have lower STI rates than the general population

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-03-13 00:01

New Zealand

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The largest known study of sexually transmitted infections among NZ sex workers has found that chlamydia and gonorrhoea were less common among cis-female sex workers attending an outreach clinic compared to female patients visiting general sexual health clinics over two years. Rates of chlamydia, but not gonorrhoea, were also lower among sex workers at the Auckland clinic compared to the general population data for the city. The study author recommends that hepatitis C be included in infection tests for sex workers, as 16% of the sex workers tested were positive for this treatable disease. The author says the study may not be representative of all NZ sex workers, but hopes these data might help dispel myths that sex workers are carriers of disease.

News release

From: Pasifika Medical Association Group

Diagnoses of blood-borne viruses and other sexually transmitted infections (STBBI) in a sample of 356 sex workers attending a sexual health outreach clinic in Auckland over a 2-year period

This is the largest known study of diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses (STBBI) in New Zealand sex workers. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea rates in female sex workers were lower than in females presenting to general sexual health clinics during the same time period. There were no diagnoses of HIV but a large proportion of those tested for hepatitis C had evidence of past or current infection (15.7%). Therefore, it is recommended that STBBI testing in sex workers should include testing for hepatitis C as effective treatment is available. Results from this study should not be considered representative of the entire sex worker community in New Zealand as participants were attending an outreach clinic and were likely more vulnerable.

Journal/
conference: New Zealand Medical Journal

Organisation/s: Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand

Funder: N/A

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