Epidemiologic features of HIV infection in three municipalities of inner Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil Características epidemiológicas da infecção pelo HIV em três municípios do interior do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Main Authors: Walter A. Eyer-Silva, Maria Alessandra Leite Freire, Mary Lúcia Gayão, Carlos Alberto Basílio-de-Oliveira, Mariza G. Morgado
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 2007
• Subjects: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Brazil; Epidemiology; HIV-1 infection; Small municipalities; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic; Circumcision
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46652007000500006; https://doaj.org/article/4bd6a5d9b9594b688ad05618631b3332

In Brazil relatively little attention is being paid to the study of the features of the spread of the AIDS epidemic towards small cities and rural areas. We report a descriptive study on the epidemiological features of HIV infection among 208 adult patients seen between July 1999 and May 2006 in the municipal HIV/AIDS Programs of three cities of inner Rio de Janeiro State: Saquarema, Santo Antonio de Pádua and Miracema. A portrait of a heterosexual epidemic emerged, with an overall male to female ratio of 1.1. More than 90% were residents of the studied cities, demonstrating a local demand for HIV-related assistance and the importance of municipal HIV/AIDS Programs. Past or current use of snorted cocaine was reported by a quarter of the patients. Older age and male gender were independent predictors of having a diagnosis of AIDS at presentation. The latter is in accordance with a more recent wave of epidemic spread towards female gender. A low frequency of male circumcision, an important determinant of heterosexual HIV transmission, was recorded. Almost 60% of the patients first presented in advanced stages of HIV infection, suggesting the existence of a large pool of undiagnosed cases in the community. No Brasil, relativamente pouca atenção vem sendo dispensada ao estudo das características do avanço da epidemia de Aids em direção aos pequenos municípios e áreas rurais. Apresentamos um estudo descritivo sobre as características epidemiológicas da infecção pelo HIV entre 208 pacientes adultos atendidos entre julho de 1999 e maio de 2006 pelos Programas Municipais de HIV/Aids de três municípios do interior do Estado do Rio de Janeiro: Saquarema, Santo Antonio de Pádua, e Miracema. Os resultados delineiam uma epidemia de perfil heterossexual, com uma razão de sexos homem-mulher de 1,1. Mais de 90% eram residentes das cidades estudadas, demonstrando uma demanda local por assistência relacionada ao HIV e a importância dos Programas Municipais de HIV/Aids. Um quarto dos pacientes referiu antecedentes de uso de ...