['A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted among brothel-based sex workers of West Bengal, eastern India, to study the prevalence of HIV and associated risk factors.', 'Unlinked anonymous HIV testing was performed on 2076 sex workers. Of these, 558 were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire to study their risk factors.', 'Overall HIV sero-prevalence was 5.9%. All infections were HIV-1, except that four sex workers from Kolkata were infected with HIV-2. Surprisingly, HIV infection was much higher (12.5%) in younger sex workers (age < or =20 years) compared with older age groups (5.4%) (P=0.002; odds ratio 2.40, 95% CI: 1.29-4.38).'] Is young age a risk factor for HIV among female sex workers -- an experience from India?