AIDS e pauperização: principais conceitos e evidências empíricas

Latin America at the margins? Implications of the geographic and epistemic narrowing of 'global' health

To explore the narrowing of the concept of 'global' in global health, this article traces how Latin America has held a place of both privilege and power as well as marginalisation in the field. We employ a modified extended case method to examine how Latin America has been 'seen' and 'heard' in understandings of global health, underscoring the region's shifting role as a key site for research and practice in 'tropical medicine' from the mid-nineteenth century through World War II, to a major player and recipient of development assistance throughout the 'international health' era after World War II until the late twentieth century, to a region progressively marginalised within 'global health' since the mid-1980s/1990s. We argue that the progressive marginalisation of Latin America and Southern theory has not only hurt health equity and services, but also demonstrates the fundamental flaws in contemporary 'global' thinking. The narrowing of global health constitutes coloniality of power, with Northern institutions largely defining priority regions and epistemic approaches to health globally, thus impoverishing the field from the intellectual resources, political experience, and wisdom of Latin America's long traditions of social medicine and collective health.

Narrative Exposure Therapy versus treatment as usual in a sample of trauma survivors who live under ongoing threat of violence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

One in three individuals who live in Rio de Janeiro experience a traumatic event within a period of 12 months. In the favelas particularly, trauma exposure is ongoing. Psychological sequalae include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and other mental disorders. Trauma-focused therapy approaches have emerged as the treatment of choice when the dangerous events are over, but symptoms have remained for an extended time period. Ideally, the victim is in a safe context during treatment. However, frequently, survivors cannot escape from situations characterised by ongoing threat and traumatic stress. The aim of this study is to research the effectiveness of Narrative Exposure Therapy in a sample of PTSD patients living under these conditions.

METHODS

Individuals fulfilling the criteria for PTSD and who live in conditions of ongoing community violence (i.e. in the favelas) in Rio de Janeiro will be randomly assigned to one of two treatments: Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) or treatment as usual (TAU). Clinical endpoints will be primarily PTSD and secondarily symptoms of shutdown dissociation, depression, substance involvement  and functionality.

DISCUSSION

Effective treatment for PTSD patients who live in unsafe conditions could substantially reduce suffering of individuals and their families in Brazil. Based on this result, the extent to which such interventions may be useful as a first step in tackling the consequences of violence on a global scale will be discussed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (German Clinical Trials Register) DRKS00017843 . Registered on September 24, 2019.

Spatial and temporal analysis of the human immunodeficiency virus in an area of social vulnerability in Northeast Brazil

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection still represents an important public health problem, because it involves clinical, epidemiological, social, economic and political issues. We analyzed the temporal and spatial pattern of the HIV incidence in an area of social inequality in northeast Brazil and its association with socioeconomic indicators. An ecological study was carried out with a focus on all HIV cases reported in Alagoas State, Northeast Brazil from 2007 to 2016 using its 102 municipalities as the units of our analysis. Data from the Brazilian information systems were used. Georeferenced data were analyzed using TerraView 4.2.2 software, QGis 2.18.2 and GeoDa 1.14.0. Time trend analyses were performed by the Joinpoint Regression software and the spatial analyses included the empirical Bayesian model and Moran autocorrelation. Spatial regression was used to determine the influence of space on HIV incidence rate and socioeconomic inequalities. There was an increasing trend of HIV rates, especially in the municipalities of the interior. Significant spatial correlations were observed with the formation of clusters with emphasis on the coast of the state and in tourist regions. Spatial regression explained 46% of the dependent variable. The HIV incidence rate was positively influenced by rate of primary health care units (P=0.00), and negatively by Gini index (P=0.00) and proportion of heads of household without or low education (P=0.02). We conclude that the relationship found between indicators of better socioeconomic conditions and HIV infection suggests unequal access to the diagnosis of infection. Prevention and control strategies can be established according to each epidemiological reality.

The association between knowledge about HIV and risk factors in young Amazon people

OBJECTIVES

analyze the association between the level of HIV knowledge among young people from Amazonas region, their sociodemographic profile and infection risk factors.

METHODS

cross-sectional analytical study, which used a structured questionnaire containing questions about sociodemographic, behavioral aspects and HIV knowledge. Data were grouped by sex and underwent ordinal and binary logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

the students had an HIV knowledge deficit, associated with a low educational level of their parents and low family income. The most frequent risk factors were lack of knowledge on the part of female students regarding proper male condom use, their infrequent use in sexual relations and failure to do HIV testing. There was an association between level of knowledge and use of dating apps by female students.

CONCLUSIONS

there was no association between level of knowledge and the preponderant risk factors, but the students' knowledge deficit rendered them more vulnerable to infection.

Spatiotemporal distribution of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome incidence in Brazil between 2012 and 2016

INTRODUCTION

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) remains a major public health issue in Brazil. This ecological study aimed to evaluate the spatiotemporal distribution of notified new AIDS cases in Brazil between 2012 and 2016.

METHODS

A Bayesian spatiotemporal model based on the Poisson distribution was used to obtain smoothed incidence estimates of AIDS in each of the 133 Brazilian intermediate regions.

RESULTS

Spatial distribution of new AIDS cases is highly heterogeneous. Regions with higher gross domestic product per capita tend to have higher incidence rates of AIDS.

CONCLUSIONS

Strategies to prevent and control AIDS should consider regional differences.

The Brazilian response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic amidst the crisis

"Crisis" is a phenomenon that is part of global and local policies with social, political, and economic repercussions. It is the context of this paper that aims to reflect on the Brazilian response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We examined the realms of this phenomenon, such as the review of the consensus on austerity policies, their impact and the construction of "anti-agendas" that hinder the narrative of human rights, gender, sexuality, and health and hamper HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Such a conservative move can be associated with censorship of specialized materials and the recent change of management in the structure of the Ministry of Health, the extinction of hundreds of participatory councils within the Executive Branch and the new National Policy on Drugs that replaces the guidance "harm reduction" with one of "abstinence". All these phenomena revive an old concern, that is, that the "ideological virus" will outweigh the biological virus, exacerbating the situation of stigma and discrimination. Besides the neoliberal socioeconomic orientation that threatens the Brazilian state, such facts would affect the continuity of institutional responses to HIV/AIDS.

HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission in Brazil (1994-2016): a time series modeling

HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission (HIV-1 MTCT), is an important cause of children mortality worldwide. Brazil has been traditionally praised by its HIV/Aids program, which provides free-of-charge care for people living with HIV-1. Using public epidemiology and demographic databases, we aimed at modeling HIV-1 MTCT prevalence in Brazil through the years (1994-2016) and elaborate a statistical model for forecasting, contributing to HIV-1 epidemiologic surveillance and healthcare decision-making. We downloaded sets of live births and mothers' data alongside HIV-1 cases notification in children one year old or less. Through time series modeling, we estimated prevalence along the years in Brazil, and observed a remarkable decrease of HIV-1 MTCT between 1994 (10 cases per 100,000 live births) and 2016 (five cases per 100,000 live births), a reduction of 50%. Using our model, we elaborated a prognosis for each Brazilian state to help HIV-1 surveillance decision making, indicating which states are in theory in risk of experiencing a rise in HIV-1 MTCT prevalence. Ten states had good (37%), nine had mild (33%), and eight had poor prognostics (30%). Stratifying the prognostics by Brazilian region, we observed that the Northeast region had more states with poor prognosis, followed by North and Midwest, Southeast and South with one state of poor prognosis each. Brazil undoubtedly advanced in the fight against HIV-1 MTCT in the past two decades. We hope our model will help indicating where HIV-1 MTCT prevalence may rise in the future and support government decision makers regarding HIV-1 surveillance and prevention.

Estimating HIV incidence from surveillance data indicates a second wave of infections in Brazil

Emerging evidence suggests that HIV incidence rates in Brazil, particularly among men, may be rising. Here we use Brazil's integrated health systems data to develop a mathematical model, reproducing the complex surveillance systems and providing estimates of HIV incidence, number of people living with HIV (PLHIV), reporting rates and ART initiation rates. An age-structured deterministic model with a flexible spline was used to describe the natural history of HIV along with reporting and treatment rates. Individual-level surveillance data for 1,077,295 cases (HIV/AIDS diagnoses, ART dispensations, CD4 counts and HIV/AIDS-related deaths) were used to calibrate the model using Bayesian inference. The results showed a second wave of infections occurring after 2001 and 56,000 (95% Credible Interval 43,000-71,000) new infections in 2015, 37,000 (95% CrI 28,000-54,000) infections in men and 16,000 (95% CrI 10,000-23,000) in women. The estimated number of PLHIV by end-2015 was 838,000 (95% CrI 675,000-1,083,000), with 80% (95% CrI 62-98%) of those individuals reported to the Ministry of Health. Women were more likely to be diagnosed and reported than men; 86.8% of infected women had been reported compared with 75.7% of men. Likewise, ART initiation rates for women were higher than those for men. The second wave contradicts previous estimates of HIV incidence trends in Brazil and there were persistent differences in the rates of accessing care between men and women. Nevertheless, the Brazilian HIV program has achieved high rates of detection and treatment, making considerable progress over the past ten years.

Preventing syndemic Zika virus, HIV/STIs and unintended pregnancy: dual method use and consistent condom use among Brazilian women in marital and civil unions

Syndemic Zika virus, HIV and unintended pregnancy call for an urgent understanding of dual method (condoms with another modern non-barrier contraceptive) and consistent condom use. Multinomial and logistic regression analysis using data from the Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saúde da Criança e da Mulher (PNDS), a nationally representative household survey of reproductive-aged women in Brazil, identified the socio-demographic, fertility and relationship context correlates of exclusive non-barrier contraception, dual method use and condom use consistency. Among women in marital and civil unions, half reported dual protection (30% condoms, 20% dual methods). In adjusted models, condom use was associated with older age and living in the northern region of Brazil or in urban areas, whereas dual method use (versus condom use) was associated with younger age, living in the southern region of Brazil, living in non-urban areas and relationship age homogamy. Among condom users, consistent condom use was associated with reporting Afro-religion or other religion, not wanting (more) children and using condoms only (versus dual methods). Findings highlight that integrated STI prevention and family planning services should target young married/in union women, couples not wanting (more) children and heterogamous relationships to increase dual method use and consistent condom use.

Social conditions and immune response in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive pregnant women: a cross-sectional study in Brazil

INTRODUCTION

The functioning of the immune system during pregnancy is altered in both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and uninfected women. Unfavorable socioeconomic conditions have been indicative of higher morbidity and mortality and worsening of the immune system. The aim of this study was to correlate social status with levels of interleukin (IL)-10 (non-inflammatory) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ; inflammatory) cytokines.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with three groups of women: 33 pregnant HIV-infected (G1); 40 non-pregnant, HIV-infected (G2); and 35 pregnant, HIV-uninfected. To measure the social status, a compound indicator called the social status index (SSI), was established using sociodemographic variables (i.e., education level, housing conditions, per capita income, and habitation and sanitary conditions).

RESULTS

The HIV-infected women had a higher proportion of unfavorable SSI (73% and 75% of G1 and G2, respectively). There were significantly lower IL-10 levels in the G1 group with both unfavorable and favorable SSI than in the other groups. No significant difference in IFN-γ levels was observed among groups. However, the G1 group had higher IFN-γ values among both favorable and unfavorable SSI groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher rates of unfavorable conditions, including lower education levels, IL-10 levels, and a trend for higher IFN-γ levels, were identified among HIV-infected women, pregnant and non-pregnant. These factors may interfere in health care and lead to poor outcomes during pregnancy. Therefore, we suggest that health policies could be created to specifically address these factors in this population.

Factors associated with dental caries, periodontitis and intra-oral lesions in individuals with HIV / AIDS

This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with oral diseases in individuals with HIV/AIDS. A cross sectional study was carried out which included 312 individuals registered in the Specialized Care Services for HIV/AIDS in three municipalities of the State of Bahia: Feira de Santana, Santo Antonio de Jesus and Juazeiro, Brazil. Socioeconomic-demographic characteristics related to life style and to dental caries, periodontitis and intra-oral mucosal lesions were investigated in patients with HIV/AIDS infection. Prevalence Ratio with 95% Confidence Interval and significance level of 5% were employed for the statistical analysis. The majority of the individuals evaluated were male with a mean age (± standard deviation) of 41.5 ± 11.3 years, and a mean time of HIV infection diagnosis (± standard deviation) of 5.2 ± 4.4 years. The presence of dental caries was observed in 78.7% of the sample, periodontitis in 25.4% and 36.2% showed intra-oral lesions. Oral health status showed a statistically significant association with the following variables: gender, age, schooling level, current occupation, family income, past and current smoking, antiretroviral use time, latest viral burden dosage, latest CD4-positive T lymphocyte count, use of complete/partial dental prosthesis, need for dental prosthesis, and use of dental floss. With the exception of those factors directly related to HIV/AIDS i.e., antiretroviral use time, latest viral burden dosage and latest CD4-positive T lymphocyte count, the factors associated with oral diseases in this population were the same as those associated with oral diseases in the non-HIV/AIDS population.

[Voluntary versus health professional-initiated HIV testing: a population-based study in women in a city in Southern Brazil]

This was a cross-sectional population-based study that aimed to describe the prevalence of HIV testing and associated factors in women in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. A total of 1,222 women were interviewed. We estimated the overall testing prevalence (yes/no) and prevalence disaggregated by testing ordered by a health professional versus voluntary testing. Test prevalence was 66.1% (95%CI: 63.4-68.8): 52.4% for testing ordered by a health professional (95%CI: 49.6-55.2) and 13.6% for spontaneous testing (95%CI: 11.6-15.5). The principal reason for testing was prenatal screening (52%). Age, age at sexual initiation, and having children were associated statistically with both voluntary and health professional-initiated testing. Sexual risk score, conjugal status, and condom use were only associated statistically with testing ordered by a health professional, while history of anal sex was only associated with spontaneous testing. The results indicate that HIV testing is closely related to prenatal care and that risk perception by the attending health professional appears to be more accurate than the patient's own perception.

The Porto Alegre paradox: social determinants and tuberculosis incidence

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is strongly associated with social and economic factors. The city of Porto Alegre, in the South of Brazil, has one of the highest Human Development Index and Gross Domestic Product per capita of the country. One would expect that the incidence of tuberculosis in such a place were low. However, the city has very high rates of incidence, the highest among Brazilian capitals. This paradox prompted this work, whose objectives were to analyze the spatial distribution of the incidence rate of bacilliferous pulmonary tuberculosis throughout the neighborhoods of Porto Alegre and its association with socioeconomic indicators.

METHODS

Ecological non-concurrent cohort study. The units of analysis were the neighborhoods of the city. The average annual incidence of bacilliferous pulmonary tuberculosis for the period 2000 to 2005 and seven socioeconomic variables were analyzed, with information obtained from the IBGE and the Mortality Information System. Spatial techniques and multivariate analyzes were used to check associations. Inequalities were also measured.

RESULTS

The spatial distribution of the incidence rate of bacilliferous pulmonary tuberculosis is very similar, i.e., associated with the distribution of socioeconomic factors. The Relative Index of Inequality was 7.9, showing the great difference in the incidence rate between neighborhoods.

CONCLUSION

Porto Alegre presents high incidence rates of bacilliferous pulmonary tuberculosis, which distribution through the neighborhoods of the city is associated with socioeconomic factors. The city's high rate is due to the extremely high incidence rates in its poorest neighborhoods. The authors raise hypotheses and suggest interventions.

Mortality related to tuberculosis-HIV/AIDS co-infection in Brazil, 2000-2011: epidemiological patterns and time trends

Co-infection of tuberculosis (TB)-HIV/AIDS is a persistent public health problem in Brazil. This study describes epidemiological patterns and time trends of mortality related to TB-HIV/AIDS co-infection. Based on mortality data from 2000-2011 (almost 12.5 million deaths), 19,815 deaths related to co-infection were analyzed. The average age-adjusted mortality rate was 0.97 deaths/100,000 inhabitants. The highest mortality rates were found among males, those in economically productive age groups, black race/color and residents of the South region. There was a significant reduction in the mortality coefficient at the national level (annual average percent change: -1.7%; 95%CI: -2.4; -1.0), with different patterns among regions: increases in the North, Northeast and Central regions, a reduction in the Southeast and a stabilization in the South. The strategic integration of TB-HIV/AIDS control programmes is fundamental to reduce the burden of mortality related to co-infection in Brazil.

Mulher e negra: dupla vulnerabilidade às DST/HIV/aids

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho é discutir os fatores determinantes da vulnerabilidade das mulheres negras a HIV/aids. Pela descrição e análise de dados socioeconômicos, de incidência e mortalidade de aids e da mortalidade de outras patologias, desenha-se o quadro epidemiológico que ressalta as iniquidades em saúde da população negra e, em particular, das mulheres desse segmento populacional. Quando comparadas às mulheres brancas, as negras apresentam, repetidamente, maior risco de adoecimento e morte. A discussão sobre violência sexual e doméstica reitera as disparidades e a maior vulnerabilidade social da mulher negra. As desigualdades socioeconômicas e o racismo institucional são as hipóteses explicativas para a alta vulnerabilidade às DST/aids das mulheres negras. Apenas com uma ampla gama de ações multissetoriais, incisivo enfrentamento do racismo institucional pelo Estado e fortalecimento do movimento social será possível iniciar a longa jornada para se alcançar o propalado princípio de equidade na saúde.

High HIV Prevalence among Men who have Sex with Men in a Time-Location Sampling Survey, São Paulo, Brazil

We conducted a time-location sampling sero-behavioral surveillance survey of men who have sex with men (MSM) in São Paulo, Brazil, the largest city in Latin America and the Southern Hemisphere (N = 1,217 interviewed with serological results for 771). HIV prevalence was 15.4 % (95 % CI 11.6-20.1), with only 45.8 % previously aware of their infection. HIV prevalence achieved 6.4 % among youth 18-24 years and was higher among MSM with lower socio-economic status. In multivariate analysis, correlates of HIV were older age, gay identity, lower socio-economic status, social networks with HIV-positive MSM, receptive anal sex, and internet sex partners. Policy change towards increasing avenues for HIV testing coupled with antiretroviral treatment regardless of CD4 count or stage of disease stand to benefit the MSM community if scaled up fast enough.

Factors that lead to the use of crack cocaine in combination with marijuana in Brazil: a qualitative study

Background

In Brazil, crack cocaine use remains a healthcare challenge due to the rapid onset of its pleasurable effects, its ability to induce craving and addiction, and the fact that it is easily accessible. Delayed action on the part of the Brazilian Government in addressing the drug problem has led users to develop their own strategies for surviving the effects of crack cocaine use, particularly the drug craving and psychosis. In this context, users have sought the benefits of combining crack cocaine with marijuana. Our aim was to identify the reasons why users combine crack cocaine with marijuana and the health implications of doing so.

Methods

The present study is a qualitative study, using in-depth interviews and criteria-based sampling, following 27 crack cocaine users who combined its use with marijuana. Participants were recruited using the snowball sampling technique, and the point of theoretical saturation was used to define the sample size. Data were analyzed using the content analysis technique.

Results

The interviewees reported that the combination of crack cocaine use with marijuana provided “protection” (reduced undesirable effects, improved sleep and appetite, reduced craving for crack cocaine, and allowed the patients to recover some quality of life).

Conclusions

Combined use of cannabis as a strategy to reduce the effects of crack exhibited several significant advantages, particularly an improved quality of life, which “protected” users from the violence typical of the crack culture.

Crack use is considered a serious public health problem in Brazil, and there are few solution strategies. Within that limited context, the combination of cannabis and crack deserves more thorough clinical investigation to assess its potential use as a strategy to reduce the damage associated with crack use.

"I did not feel like a mother": the success and remaining challenges to exclusive formula feeding among HIV-positive women in Brazil

Exclusive and safe formula feeding can eliminate the risk of vertical HIV transmission due to breastfeeding. Therefore, many countries advise all HIV-positive women to avoid breastfeeding their infants. However, little research explores the experiences of women attempting to exclusively formula feed in countries with free and universal access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This article examines the success of Brazil in supporting HIV-positive women as engage in exclusive formula feeding (EFF). We conducted in-depth interviews with 30 HIV-positive women receiving care at the primary facility for HIV/AIDS in Salvador, Brazil about their attitudes and practices related to EFF as well as challenges with adhering to EFF. All interviews were recorded, professionally transcribed and translated, and then analyzed. Our results showed that one woman reported both breastfeeding and formula feeding her infant; all others reported EFF. Postpartum counseling regarding the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding was the primary motivation for EFF. Challenges included difficulty reconciling their perceptions that breastfeeding is an important maternal responsibility, trouble accepting that breastfeeding can cause potential to harm their infants, confronting HIV-related stigma associated with EFF, and unexpected financial burdens due to EFF. We conclude that HIV-positive women adhered to national guidelines recommending EFF; this phenomenon has likely contributed to declining rates of vertical transmission in Brazil. Despite this success, many women experienced challenges with EFF. Greater support services may enhance Brazil's success in empowering HIV-positive women and eliminating vertical HIV transmission via breastfeeding.

Assessment of sexual risk behaviors and perception of vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in women, 1999-2012: a population based survey in a medium-sized Brazilian city

Sexual behavior is a key factor for susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases. An evaluation of the sexual behavior of women at reproductive age was conducted in 1999. A replication of this study aims to evaluate the current situation and identify changes in sexual behavior, 13 years later. This is a population-based cross-sectional study, conducted with 1071 women in Pelotas, Brazil. Compared to the 1999 study, a 14% increase in early sexual debut and an 8% decrease in the non-use of condoms were observed in 2012. The proportion of women who reported anal sex doubled between these periods. There was no trend of increase or decrease in the prevalence of behaviors with distinct patterns being observed for each of them. Reduction of non-use of condoms may be an indicator of the effectiveness of campaigns to promote safe sex. However, the increased prevalence of early sexual debut and anal sex indicates the need for campaigns to continue and to expand their focus, especially among vulnerable groups.

AIDS tendencies in São Mateus microregion, state of Espírito Santo, and Brazil from 1999 to 2008

INTRODUCTION

In Brazil, AIDS has been described as a multi-faceted pandemic. This study aimed to describe the trends of AIDS in São Mateus microregion, in Espírito Santo, and in Brazil, from 1999 to 2008.

METHODS

Data were collected from the Notification Offences System, and a trend analysis was made.

RESULTS

Microregion-based results are close to the state and national levels but with particular features that indicate the presence of regional sub-epidemics.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite progress in nearly thirty years of the epidemic, AIDS remains an incurable disease, and prevention is still the best defense against it together with the implementation of specific public policies.

Risco reprodutivo e renda familiar: análise do perfil de gestantes

Em face do desafio de enfrentar a morbimortalidade materna e perinatal, a discussão sobre risco reprodutivo e sua associação com situações de vulnerabilidade em saúde é relevante à saúde publica. A pesquisa realizada teve como objetivos descrever o perfil de risco reprodutivo de 3440 mulheres matriculadas em um serviço de pré-natal de alto risco, entre 2006 e 2008, e investigar sua relação com renda familiar e situações de vulnerabilidade em saúde. Trata-se de estudo transversal que teve como fonte o banco de dados do pré-natal. O perfil econômico do grupo estudado é de baixa renda. Encontrou-se associação entre baixa renda familiar e malformações fetais, gravidez antes dos 15 anos e HIV. Renda familiar mais elevada foi associada à idade materna acima de 35 anos, translucência nucal alterada, ginecopatias e abortamento habitual. Os achados podem refletir situações de vulnerabilidade de mulheres de baixa renda, como condições de saúde desfavoráveis e menor acesso e utilização de serviços de saúde. É necessário obter um maior conhecimento do perfil do risco reprodutivo no Brasil e sua distribuição segundo características sociodemográficas, visando ao aperfeiçoamento das práticas assistenciais.

[Coping experiences in the work environment of men living with HIV/AIDS]

The objective of this study was to understand the coping mechanisms of men living with HIV/AIDS in terms of their work environment. A qualitative study was carried out at a specialized outpatient clinic in Fortaleza-Ceará between March and June 2010, involving eleven men infected with the virus. Semi-structured and audio-recorded interviews were used. The statements were categorized through content analysis into the following categories: absence from work due to the infection; subterfuges used to hide the disease; disrespect for confidentiality in the work environment; suffering associated with the fear of rejection and prejudice; ways of coping after diagnosis of the disease; and the importance of work for personal accomplishment. In conclusion, men infected with HIV face counterproductive situations in the work environment, mainly evidenced by fear of discovery of the infection and prejudice. Associated with coping, absences for health monitoring purposes interfered with performance at work and increased the risk of losing their job.

Aspectos epidemiológicos da AIDS em Florianópolis/SC, Brasil

O estudo teve como objetivo descrever os aspectos epidemiológicos das pessoas com 13 anos e mais, com AIDS, residentes em Florianópolis/SC entre 1986 e 2006. Estudo descritivo, transversal, com coleta das variáveis: ano de diagnóstico, sexo, idade, categoria de exposição, escolaridade, cor da pele e Regional de Saúde de residência, no Sistema Nacional de Agravos de Notificação e Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade. Constata-se a magnitude da AIDS em homens, com ensino fundamental, de cor da pele branca, idade entre 20 e 49 anos e heterossexuais. Observou-se a vulnerabilidade feminina na redução da razão entre os sexos masculino/feminino no período avaliado. Apresentam-se a base social e a especificidade dos doentes de AIDS em Florianópolis/SC, e sugerem-se investimentos no diagnóstico territorial na Estratégia de Saúde da Família e acompanhamento dos sistemas de informação pelas Regionais de Saúde, para avaliar a eficiência e a efetividade das estratégias de prevenção à AIDS em Florianópolis/SC.

Qualidade do sono em portadores do vírus da imunodeficiência humana

Este estudo teve por objetivo caracterizar a qualidade do sono de pessoas com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) - AIDS - , com ou sem manifestações clínicas e sob tratamento ambulatorial. Para tal, foi realizada pesquisa descritiva e transversal. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: Questionário de Caracterização Sociodemográfica e Clínica; Índice de Qualidade de Sono de Pittsburgh (PSQI-BR). Participaram da pesquisa 122 pacientes (55,7% de homens e 44,3% de mulheres, com idade média de 42,3 (± 8,9 anos), dos quais 53,3% referiram apresentar sono de boa qualidade e 46,7%, sono de má qualidade. Dormiam, em média, 7,3 (± 1,8) horas, com latência de 23,2 (± 26,2) minutos e eficiência do sono de 87,8% (± 14,4). Observou-se associação significativa entre o sono de boa qualidade e os seguintes fatores: ter companheiro(a); apresentar carga viral indetectável; manter comportamento de risco. Recomenda-se que os profissionais de enfermagem incluam sistematicamente questões sobre o sono ao avaliarem o paciente com HIV/AIDS, detectando alterações precocemente e reunindo subsídios para o planejamento de intervenções.

[The AIDS epidemic in adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 in the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: space-time description]

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to analyze the dynamics of the AIDS epidemic affecting adolescents in Rio de Janeiro to establish healthy prevention strategies. The incidence of AIDS in Brazil is declining among men who have sex with men (MSM) except in individuals between 13 and 19 years of age, and the feminization phenomenon is more pronounced among adolescents.

METHODS

We evaluated data from Sistema de Informações de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) regarding cases of AIDS in patients aged between 13 and 19 years through November 2009.

RESULTS

This study includes 656 cases. The incidence of AIDS increased until 1998, and, since 1996, more cases have been diagnosed in girls than in boys. The homo/bisexual exposure category predominantly consisted of boys (50.8%), and the heterosexual category predominantly consisted of girls (88.9%). The geographic distribution of the cases by year of diagnosis revealed that the increase was proportionally larger in the poorest area and that there was a large decrease in the wealthiest area. A decreasing linear tendency was observed in the relationship between the year of diagnosis and the human development index (HDI).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the need for greater investment in sexual health and reproductive services in the poorest areas of the city and in the promotion of healthy sexual practices directed to MSM and female adolescents.

Masculinidade hegemônica, vulnerabilidade e prevenção ao HIV/AIDS

O estudo tem como objetivo analisar as relações entre masculinidade, vulnerabilidade e prevenção do HIV/AIDS, com a ancoragem em narrativas de homens jovens pertencentes às chamadas classes trabalhadoras urbanas, levando em conta não só os sentidos atribuídos à prevenção por parte desses sujeitos, mas também considerando a relação dialética entre individuo e sociedade. O referencial conceitual engloba três eixos masculinidade hegemônica, prevenção e vulnerabilidade. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa baseada na perspectiva da hermenêutica dialética que utiliza o método de interpretação de sentidos. A análise produziu dois eixos como resultados: A masculinidade hegemônica como fator de vulnerabilidade; Mitos e preconceitos como fatores de vulnerabilidade ao HIV/AIDS; Em termos de conclusão, reforça-se a necessidade da discussão acerca da prevenção encampar a necessidade de colocar na ordem do dia a construção do sistema sexo/gênero em volta do qual se articulam os significados sociais da masculinidade e da feminilidade que influenciam estruturalmente o plano das relações afetivo sexuais, em geral, e a prevenção do HIV/AIDS, em específico.

HIV risk behavior of psychiatric patients with mental illness: a sample of Brazilian patients

OBJECTIVE

The prevalence of HIV among psychiatric patients is higher than general population rates worldwide. Many risk behaviors have been identified in studies from both developing and developed countries, though sampling limitations restrict the generalizability of their results. The objective of this study was to report findings from the first national sample of psychiatric patients about lifetime practice of unsafe sex and associated factors.

METHOD

A national multicenter sample of adults with mental illness was randomly selected from 26 public mental health institutions throughout Brazil. Sociodemographic, sexual behavior and clinical data were obtained from person-to-person interviews and blood was collected for serology testing. Logistic regression was used for analysis.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of lifetime unprotected sex was 80.3%. Married, older, female patients, those with multiple partners and living with children or partners only and those with less severe psychiatric diagnosis more often practised unsafe sex.

DISCUSSION

Risk behavior assessment is a critical tool for clinicians to be able to determine needed HIV-related services for their clients and ensure appropriate follow-through with care and prevention. Interventions that address situational risks in psychiatric patients' lives-institutional and individual- and increase their ability to make informed decisions about their sexual health are urgently needed.

Prevalência de HIV em gestantes e transmissão vertical segundo perfil socioeconômico, Vitória, ES

OBJETIVO: Descrever a prevalência de infecção por HIV em gestantes e a taxa de transmissão vertical, segundo o perfil socioeconômico dos bairros de residência das mães. MÉTODOS: Estudo ecológico exploratório utilizando a base de dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação de gestantes HIV-positivas e aids em crianças notificadas entre 2000 e 2006 em Vitória, ES. Para análise das informações socioeconômicas foi utilizado o Índice de Qualidade Urbana. A prevalência de HIV em gestantes e a taxa de transmissão vertical foram calculadas. A distribuição espacial dos casos foi realizada no programa Terraview 3.2.0. Para verificar a associação entre a qualidade urbana e a prevalência de HIV em gestantes utilizou-se o modelo de regressão de Poisson. RESULTADOS: Um total de 137 gestantes e 14 crianças infectadas por transmissão vertical foi notificado no período. Sete crianças correspondiam a mães HIV-positivas sem notificação de caso no período analisado. A prevalência de infecção em gestantes no período foi de 0,44% e a taxa de transmissão vertical foi de 9,7%. CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência de infecção por HIV em gestantes e a transmissão vertical associam-se à qualidade urbana do bairro de residência, indicando que os bairros com menor qualidade urbana devem ser priorizados quanto às ações para redução da transmissão vertical.

Social representations of AIDS and their quotidian interfaces for people living with HIV

This qualitative descriptive study, guided by the Social Representations Theory, aimed to describe the content of the social representations regarding the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) for seropositive individuals in outpatient monitoring of the public health network and to analyze the interface of the social representations of AIDS with the quotidian of the individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), especially in the adherence to treatment process Interviews were conducted with 30 seropositive individuals and the manual content analysis technique was used. From the analysis, six categories emerged that re-translated the quotidian of seropositive people permeated by the stigma, prejudice, struggle for life and the need for the continuous use of antiretrovirals. AIDS was assimilated to chronic diseases such as diabetes, showing a trend of transformation of the social representation of AIDS, substituting the idea of death, with life. It is concluded that people living with HIV are more optimistic due to effective treatments for the control of the disease.

Desvendando olhares: infância e AIDS nos discursos da sociedade

O presente trabalho aborda a epidemia da Aids sob a perspectiva não somente de seu impacto biológico, como também social, tendo como principal foco as crianças infectadas pelo vírus HIV. Para tanto, contextualiza o percurso da epidemia, abordando a mudança de seu quadro no panorama mundial até chegar à infância. A partir de uma perspectiva histórica, analisa o conceito de infância e se atém principalmente aos aspectos psicossociais peculiares a essa infância "produzida" a partir do surgimento da epidemia. Baseada principalmente na teoria de Michel Foucault, aliada a aspectos específicos sobre Aids, procura identificar os discursos que envolvem essa infância, acreditando que estes têm poder de determinar lugares, mas também de realizar mudanças em nossa sociedade.

Prostituição masculina e vulnerabilidade às dsts/aids

Estudo qualitativo, descritivo-exploratório que teve como objetivos identificar as razões que levam homens jovens a se inserirem no mercado da prostituição masculina, apreender as representações que elaboram sobre as práticas sexuais adotadas e sua percepção quanto à própria vulnerabilidade às DSTs/aids. Foram realizadas entrevistas individuais com roteiro temático semi-estruturado com 24 participantes. O material empírico foi submetido à análise temática e examinado segundo o referencial teórico de gênero. Os colaboradores referiram estar há pouco tempo na atividade e apontaram como principal motivação a busca de vantagens econômicas. Alegaram utilizar preservativo nas práticas sexuais que envolvem penetração, mas que não tomavam precauções no sexo oral. A preocupação em ocupar papel ativo na relação sexual esteve associada à tentativa de corresponder a um estereótipo de masculinidade que enfatiza poder/força/controle, dificultando a percepção da própria vulnerabilidade. A invisibilidade social que caracteriza o sexo comercial pode tornar esses jovens mais vulneráveis à infecção por DST/aids.

Vulnerabilidades ao HIV/aids no Contexto Brasileiro: iniquidades de gênero, raça e geração

OBJETIVO: Analisar o conhecimento da população sobre DST/aids, bem como os discursos sobre o uso do preservativo e das práticas sexuais. MÉTODOS: Pesquisa qualitativa com 64 indivíduos jovens e adultos, brancos e negros, sexualmente ativos, de ambos os sexos. A vulnerabilidade ao HIV/aids foi discutida a partir da perspectiva racial (negros ou brancos), geracional (entre 16 e 24 anos ou 45 e mais) e de gênero (masculino ou feminino). Foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade com roteiro semiestruturado nas cidades de São Paulo (SP) e Recife (PE), sobre os temas: conhecimento e percepção sobre DST/aids, percepção de risco individual, negociação e uso de preservativos, iniciação sexual e práticas sexuais. RESULTADOS: Os indivíduos menos escolarizados, os homens, os mais velhos e os moradores de Recife foram os menos informados sobre DST/aids. Pessoas acima de 45 anos e os menos escolarizados possuíam conhecimento incipiente sobre as formas de transmissão e prevenção das DST/aids. O uso do preservativo entre os entrevistados de ambas as cidades foi relativamente baixo; a não utilização do preservativo entre as mulheres em relação estável foi atribuída à negativa do parceiro. Entre os entrevistados que declararam usar o preservativo, o tipo de relação estabelecida e a fase do relacionamento resultaram em padrões de uso diversificados; o uso consistente do preservativo foi mais frequente nas parcerias eventuais. CONCLUSÕES: O conhecimento incipiente aliado à prática sexual insegura coloca mulheres unidas, de baixa escolaridade, menor renda, sobretudo acima dos 45 anos, e os residentes de Recife em situação de maior vulnerabilidade às DST/aids.

Perfis de Vulnerabilidade Feminina ao HIV/aids em Belo Horizonte e Recife: comparando brancas e negras

OBJETIVO: Delinear e comparar os perfis das mulheres brancas e negras entre 18 e 59 anos, residentes em Belo Horizonte e Recife, enfocando características sociodemográficas e de conhecimento, além de atitudes em relação ao HIV/aids. MÉTODOS: Os dados são oriundos da pesquisa amostral SRSR - Saúde Reprodutiva, Sexualidade e Raça/Cor, conduzida pelo Cedeplar/UFMG em 2002 e única desta natureza com representatividade municipal. O método utilizado foi o Grade of Membership (GoM), a partir do qual foram gerados quatro perfis extremos para cada município. RESULTADOS: Tanto em Belo Horizonte quanto em Recife, as mulheres com maior probabilidade de serem brancas são também aquelas com maior probabilidade de ter escolaridade mais elevada, possuir plano de saúde, ter tido parceiro estável no ano anterior à pesquisa e ter poder na relação sexual. Quanto às negras, apenas em Belo Horizonte elas têm maior probabilidade de serem de baixa escolaridade, não possuírem plano de saúde, além de se sentirem desempoderadas diante do parceiro sexual. CONCLUSÕES: A comparação dos perfis de brancas e negras em Belo Horizonte e Recife revela diferenças na vulnerabilidade dessas mulheres ao HIV/aids. As diferenças entre os dois grupos são mais evidentes em Belo Horizonte.

Micoses sistêmicas: fatores associados ao óbito em pacientes com infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana, Cuiabá, Estado de Mato Grosso, 2005-2008

A prevalência de micose sistêmica entre 1.300 pacientes portadores de HIV/Aids de Cuiabá, Mato Grosso foi de 4,6%, no período de 2005-2008. As espécies de fungos isoladas foram o Cryptococcus neoformans (50%), Cryptococcus gattii (1,6%), Cryptococcus spp (6,6%), Histoplasma capsulatum (38,3%) e Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (3,3%). Óbito foi registrado em 32 (53,3%) pacientes, sendo a criptococose a principal causa. A contagem de linfócitos T CD4+ foi baixa e semelhante entre os pacientes que sobreviveram ou faleceram por micose sistêmica. O etilismo (OR:8,2; IC95%: 1,4-62,1; p=0,005) e o nível médio de desidrogenase lática [758 (182) U/L vs 416 (268) U/L; p<0,001] foram as características independentemente associadas ao óbito dos pacientes do estudo. Os resultados mostram alta letalidade por micoses sistêmicas em pacientes portadores de HIV/Aids de Cuiabá e sugerem que características clínico-laboratoriais tais como o etilismo e a elevação precoce da desidrogenase lática podem ser fatores relacionados ao pior prognóstico nessas condições.

Technological profile assessment of voluntary HIV counseling and testing centers in Brazil

OBJECTIVE

To characterize and analyze technological profiles of voluntary HIV counseling and testing centers in Brazil.

METHODS

A structured self-completion questionnaire with 78 questions was used. This questionnaire was answered by 320 (83.6%) of the 383 Brazilian centers, in 2006. Responses that characterized the services' technological profile were analyzed using K-means clustering technique. Associations between the profiles described and the municipal contexts were analyzed using the chi-square and residue analysis for proportions, and ANOVA and Bonferroni for means.

RESULTS

Centers showed significant deficiencies to guarantee adequate services. A total of four technological profiles were identified. The 'care' profile (21.6%) predominated among the services instituted before 1993, in areas with high AIDS incidence and in large cities. The 'prevention' profile (30.0%), prevalent between 1994 and 1998, was the type that best complies with the Ministry of Health's norms, with better readiness and productivity indicators. The 'care and prevention' profile (26.9%), included in the AIDS services, predominated between 1999 and 2002, and developed the most comprehensive set of activities, including STD treatment. The 'testing' profile (21.6%) was the most precarious, found where the epidemic is most recent and with a lower number of people tested.

CONCLUSIONS

Counseling and testing centers constitute a set of heterogeneous services. In addition, service implementation guidelines have not been completely incorporated in Brazil, thus having and influence on low resolution and productivity indicators and also the inadequate development of prevention activities.

[The impact of AIDS on the organizational development of nongovernmental organizations: a case study on Casa de Assistência Filadélfia]

AIDS has been a unique event due not only to its devastating effects, but also to the ways in which it has stimulated solidarity and mobilization of society in the defense of the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families, friends, and contacts. Beginning as initiatives to ensure dignity in death, AIDS NGOs have undergone structural changes to respond to the demands raised by the epidemic. The current study describes the history of the Brazilian AIDS NGO "Casa de Assistência Filadélfia" in relation to the evolution of the AIDS epidemic, highlighting the issue of organizational development. A qualitative case study methodology was used, and the data were collected from document analysis and semi-structured interviews with key informants identified by the organization. Data analysis was based on the theoretical premises of organizational development and shows how the organization made the transition from the pioneering phase marked by improvisation and expanded to a phase of regulation until reaching flexibility and innovation by diversifying its projects. The study highlights the importance of organizational development as an essential element in building healthy, agile organizations in the response to their demands.

Prevalência e fatores associados às manifestações bucais em pacientes HIV positivos atendidos em cidade sul-brasileira

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a prevalência de lesões bucais entre pacientes HIV positivos e identificar fatores associados a tais lesões. Foi realizado estudo transversal que coletou dados mediante entrevista, exame clínico e consulta aos prontuários médicos de pacientes adultos atendidos no Serviço de HIV-AIDS do Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, sendo considerados fatores sócio-demográficos, imunológicos e terapêuticos. Foi utilizada a regressão de Poisson num modelo hierárquico de análise. Entre abril de 2006 a janeiro de 2007 foram observados 300 pacientes, sendo 51% do sexo masculino e média de idade de 40 anos; 39% apresentaram lesões bucais, sendo a candidíase a mais freqüente (59,1%), seguida de leucoplasia pilosa (19,5%). As mulheres apresentaram um risco menor, com observância de uma associação inversa com o CD4. Houve um risco maior entre aqueles pacientes com menor escolaridade, menor renda, tabagistas, dependentes do álcool, com maior tempo de infecção pelo HIV e carga viral mais elevada. Os dados confirmaram a elevada prevalência das manifestações bucais oportunistas e evidenciaram a sua relação com a situação social, assim como sua relação com determinados hábitos e costumes passíveis de modificação.

A public policy approach to local models of HIV/AIDS control in Brazil

OBJECTIVES

We investigated involvement and cooperation patterns of local Brazilian AIDS program actors and the consequences of these patterns for program implementation and sustainability.

METHODS

We performed a public policy analysis (documentary analysis, direct observation, semistructured interviews of health service and nongovernmental organization [NGO] actors) in 5 towns in 2 states, São Paulo and Pará.

RESULTS

Patterns suggested 3 models. In model 1, local government, NGOs, and primary health care services were involved in AIDS programs with satisfactory response to new epidemiological trends but a risk that HIV/AIDS would become low priority. In model 2, mainly because of NGO activism, HIV/AIDS remained an exceptional issue, with limited responses to new epidemiological trends and program sustainability undermined by political instability. In model 3, involvement of public agencies and NGOs was limited, with inadequate response to epidemiological trends and poor mobilization threatening program sustainability.

CONCLUSIONS

Within a common national AIDS policy framework, the degree of involvement and cooperation between public and NGO actors deeply impacts population coverage and program sustainability. Specific processes are required to maintain actor mobilization without isolating AIDS programs.

Acesso universal? Obstáculos ao acesso, continuidade do uso e gênero em um serviço especializado em HIV/AIDS em Salvador, Bahia, Brasil

Desde 1996, o Brasil mantém políticas internacionalmente conhecidas como de acesso universal ao tratamento especializado em HIV/AIDS. Observa-se, que o impacto da iniciativa tem sido desigual entre diferentes populações e regiões brasileiras. Desde uma perspectiva de gênero, o estudo buscou avaliar o acesso a um serviço especializado em HIV/AIDS localizado em Salvador, Bahia, identificando fatores facilitadores e obstaculizadores ao acesso e continuidade do uso vivenciados por mulheres vivendo com HIV/AIDS. Foram realizadas observação participante e entrevistas semi e não estruturadas com 13 usuárias. Resultados indicaram que a organização das rotinas do serviço e as relações travadas entre usuários e entre eles e trabalhadores em saúde condicionavam-se por valores, concepções e práticas associados a gênero, classe e aparência. O acesso e continuidade do uso no Serviço de Atenção à AIDS de Salvador eram condicionados à disponibilidade de bens sociais e simbólicos; o serviço apresentava capacidade limitada de adequação às especificidades dos usuários. Os achados apontam para limitações da operacionalização das políticas de acesso universal; e reforçam a necessidade de estudos que considerem a noção de vulnerabilidade e regionalização da epidemia no Brasil.

Histórias de dor e de vida: oficinas de contadores de histórias

Esta pesquisa foi uma intervenção com grupos de sujeitos soropositivos, realizada na cidade de São Leopoldo/RS, município da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre que apresenta a terceira prevalência de Hiv/Aids no Estado. O objetivo da pesquisa foi organizar oficinas de contadores de histórias e motivar os participantes a atuar como multiplicadores. A oficina de que trata este artigo foi realizada na ONG Apoio, Solidariedade e Prevenção à Aids (ASPA), desenvolvida em cinco encontros, nos quais os sujeitos contaram as histórias de vida e inventaram um ritual ancorado na religiosidade popular. O grupo era composto por oito usuários e dois trabalhadores voluntários, todos soropositivos; com predomínio de mulheres de baixa renda e chefes de família. Foi utilizado o referencial das práticas discursivas para analisar o material produzido na oficina. No percurso do trabalho emergiram dois temas principais: o preconceito a que estão submetidos os sujeitos soropositivos e a religiosidade como estratégia de resistência usada pela população na luta contra a Aids. Enfatiza-se a importância de atividades como a de contar histórias na promoção da saúde da população.

Aids e envelhecimento: características dos casos com idade igual ou maior que 50 anos em Pernambuco, de 1990 a 2000

Não há consenso na literatura sobre o comportamento clínico-epidemiológico de pessoas com aids de diferentes faixas etárias. Alguns autores defendem que as pessoas com mais de 50 anos de idade são afetadas pela epidemia da aids de forma semelhante às pessoas jovens. O presente estudo propõe-se a comparar características sociodemográficas e clínico-epidemiológicas dos casos de aids com idade igual ou maior que 50 anos, com aqueles de 20 a 39 anos, residentes em Pernambuco e diagnosticados entre 1º de janeiro de 1990 e 31 de dezembro de 2000. Desenvolveu-se um estudo observacional, do tipo seccional, de base populacional, com dados secundários dos casos notificados à Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de Pernambuco, seguindo-se de revisão de prontuários médicos. Foram incluídos 3.565 casos de aids, sendo 10,8% com 50 anos ou mais e 89,2% com 20 a 39 anos. As taxas de incidências ano a ano comportaram-se de maneira semelhante para os dois grupos etários, ao longo do período estudado, exceto para os dois últimos anos, com um incremento do grupo com mais de 50 anos. Estimou-se as razões de prevalência (RP) para as variáveis incluídas, não tendo sido encontradas diferenças em relação ao sexo, contagem de linfócitos T CD4+ e doenças associadas. Por outro lado, observou-se diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os grupos para o local de residência (RP=1,23, c² = 4,45, p= 0,03), escolaridade (RP=1,48, c² = 4,49, p= 0,03), categoria de exposição ao HIV (RP=1,81, c² = 27,77, p< 0,001) e status vital (RP=1,32, c² = 7,69, p< 0,001). Os resultados apontam para um aumento gradativo, embora lento, da epidemia de aids na faixa etária de 50 a 70 anos, com predomínio de mais baixa escolaridade e de prática heterossexual. As questões relacionadas a aids e envelhecimento devem ser aprofundadas, principalmente pelo aumento da expectativa de vida da população brasileira, de modo a reorientar ações de prevenção e controle da infecção pelo HIV.

Aids em área rural de Minas Gerais: abordagem cultural

OBJETIVO: Descrever comportamentos facilitadores à exposição ao HIV/Aids em população rural. MÉTODOS: Pesquisa qualitativa realizada com 52 pacientes atendidos em ambulatório de DST/Aids, em 2002-2003. Foram feitas entrevistas abertas e semi-estruturadas em profundidade com os participantes (30 homens e 22 mulheres), conduzidas no ambulatório ou em suas residências, em municípios rurais da região norte de Minas Gerais. As entrevistas foram transcritas, analisadas em categorias: concepções da doença, trabalho, sociabilidade, informações prévias sobre a doença, modo de vida. A interpretação dos resultados baseou-se na análise de conteúdo. RESULTADOS: Na percepção dos entrevistados, a Aids era "doença de cidade grande" e de "forasteiro", desvinculada da cultura local. Todos os entrevistados se infectaram através de atividades heterossexuais ou homossexuais. A migração rural-urbana é aspecto relevante da infecção do HIV na região devido ao deslocamento em busca de trabalho. CONCLUSÕES: As noções populares de doença contribuem para vulnerabilidade à infecção pelo HIV. É necessário apreender noções culturais locais para melhor entender as categorias de pensamento dessa população, enfocando essas noções ao divulgar informações sobre a doença.

Escala de atitudes frente ao HIV/AIDS: análise de fatores

OBJETIVO: Este trabalho apresenta resultados acerca das propriedades psicométricas da "Escala de atitudes frente ao HIV/AIDS". Os dados, provenientes de uma amostra de 549 alunos entre universitários, ensinos médio e ensino fundamental. MÉTODOS: Os dados foram tratados pelo método dos componentes principais da análise fatorial. A análise final, postulado um eigenvalue mínimo de 2, resultou cinco fatores. Foram eliminados itens que apresentaram carga fatorial menor que 0,30. Neste estudo, o menor alfa observado foi de 0,79. Portanto, é provável que todos os 47 itens do instrumento final elaborado meçam o mesmo construto: atitude frente ao HIV/AIDS. RESULTADOS: Escores inferiores a 96 foram considerados "fraco grau de conhecimento sobre HIV/AIDS"; entre 96 e 192 "moderado grau de conhecimento" e acima de 192 "alto grau de conhecimento sobre HIV/AIDS". Foram estabelecidos os fatores: 1, 2 e 3, sendo "fator geral de percepção da informação técnico-científica"; "fator de percepção da informação técnico-científica versus sexualidade e preconceito"; "fator de percepção da informação técnico-científica no uso de drogas", respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: O alfa de Cronbach encontrado para a escala como um todo foi de 0,859, sugerindo fortemente a existência da fidedignidade do instrumento que se mostrou útil para avaliar o grau de conhecimento acerca do HIV/AIDS e o risco decorrente do desconhecimento, entre estudantes.

Perfil das gestantes infectadas pelo HIV atendidas em pré-natal de alto risco de referência de Belo Horizonte

OBJETIVOS: identificar gestantes infectadas pelo HIV em centro de referência e investigar características refe-rentes à infecção e paridade. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal, que abrangeu toda a população de gestantes infectadas pelo HIV assistidas no Pré-Natal de Alto Risco do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, em 2004. Foram coletados dados demográficos, epidemiologia da infecção pelo HIV e história obstétrica. Para análise estatística foi utilizado o SPSS 12.0. RESULTADOS: foram identificadas 85 mulheres com média de idade de 29,1 anos e 90 gestações. Em 55 gestações (61,1%), as mulheres tinham conhecimento prévio da infecção. Sessenta e quatro (71,1%) informavam união estável. Provavelmente, todas adquiriram o HIV em relações heterossexuais. Cinqüenta e quatro (60%) tiveram o diagnóstico durante alguma gravidez. A média global de gestações foi 3,5, sendo 1,71 após o diagnóstico. Pacientes com diagnóstico prévio apresentaram maior média de gestações, em relação àquelas com diagnóstico na gestação estudada (p = 0,002). Oitenta e seis gestantes usaram anti-retroviral, sendo 56,7% por indicação terapêutica. Não foram verificados casos de transmissão vertical. CONCLUSÕES: novas gestações em mulheres infectadas pelo HIV não são raras, apesar dos recursos de contracepção oferecidos. Assim, outras investigações são necessárias para a identificar suas dificuldades não abordadas durante a assistência médica de rotina.

AIDS incidence and mortality in injecting drug users: the AjUDE-Brasil II Project

This paper presents AIDS incidence and mortality among injecting drug users (IDUs) reached by the AjUDE-Brasil II Project. From a cross-sectional survey, 478 IDUs were interviewed in three Brazilian cities: Porto Alegre, São José do Rio Preto, and Itajaí. The cohort was followed up in the Brazilian surveillance database for AIDS and mortality during 2000 and 2001. AIDS incidence was 1.1 cases per 100 person-years, and the mortality rate was 2.8 deaths per 100 person-years. AIDS cases only occurred in IDUs who reported ever having shared injecting equipment. Female gender (RR = 5.30), homelessness (RR = 6.16), and report of previous sexual relations with same-sex partners (RR = 6.21) were associated with AIDS. Deaths occurred only among males. Homelessness (RR = 3.00), lack of income (RR = 2.65), HIV seropositive status (RR = 4.52), and no history of incarceration (RR = 3.71) were also associated with death. These findings support evidence that gender and socioeconomic conditions are both determinants of morbidity and mortality in Brazilian IDUs.

Characteristics of male and female injecting drug users of the AjUDE-Brasil II Project

The object of this study is to compare female and male injection drug users (IDUs) in terms of sociodemographic profile and aspects of their initiation to the use of injection drugs. It was a cross-sectional and multicentric study realized in 2000-2001 in six Brazilian syringe-exchange programs. 146 women and 709 men were interviewed, with average ages of 29.5 and 28.3 years, respectively. Both began injection drug use at similar ages, 18.6 and 19.3, for women and men, respectively, although women report more frequently than men that they were initiated by a sexual partner to acquiring drugs and syringes, and to the act of injection. Compared to men, women report significantly more regular sexual partners (83% versus 72%); fewer casual partners (39% versus 58%), more use of injection drugs with their partners, as well as more "exchange" of sex for drugs. Among HIV-seropositive individuals, women show less education, had more chance of their sexual partners participating in their initiation to injection drugs, and report sexual partners that used injection drugs more frequently. Female IDUs exhibit aspects of behavior indicating greater vulnerability to HIV infection than do males.

Safe sex versus safe love? Relationship context and condom use among male adolescents in the favelas of Recife, Brazil

This study examined the influence of the relationship context where adolescent sexual activity takes place on contraceptive decisions. The data were collected in a specially designed survey carried out in May 2000 on 1,438 adolescent males aged 13-19 residing in favelas (urban slum areas) of Recife, Brazil. A logistic regression analysis of condom use at last sexual intercourse and a multinomial logit analysis of contraceptive method choice were performed for 678 sexually active adolescents. Educational attainment, degree of knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention, and condom use at first sexual intercourse were found to be significantly associated with current condom use. Regarding the relationship context, the analysis revealed that adolescent males in steady relationships were less likely to use condoms, less likely to regard themselves at risk of HIV infection, and more concerned about pregnancy prevention than adolescents in casual relationships. Differentials in condom use by type of relationship, however, did not result from a higher rejection of contraception by steady partners but from their higher likelihood to rely on other contraceptive methods. Results suggest that prevention campaigns need to take into account the intimate context where adolescents assess potential health risks, and to address the divergent symbolic meanings condoms may have in different types of relationships. If an increase of condom use among stable sexual partners is pursued, public health campaigns might need to romanticize condom use as a sign of love and trust and place more emphasis on the benefits of dual protection.

HIV infection and AIDS in a small municipality in Southeast Brazil

OBJECTIVE: Studies on the aspects of HIV infection in small Brazilian municipalities are invaluable to appropriately design control strategies, better allocate resources, and improve health care services. The objective of the study was to assess the clinical and epidemiological aspects of HIV infection in a small municipality. METHODS: A descriptive study was carried out in Miracema, a small municipality in the northwestern area of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between July 1999 and December 2003. All HIV-infected adult patients followed up at the local HIV/AIDS Program were included. Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics were prospectively assessed through standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 65 adult patients who attended the local HIV/AIDS Program were analyzed. Most (34) were women (male to female ratio: 0.9). An absolute predominance of patients who were born in Miracema or neighboring municipalities (94%), lived in Miracema (90.7%), were single (70.8%), attributed the acquisition of HIV infection to unprotected heterosexual intercourse (72.3%) and had a past history of snorting cocaine (27.7) was found Central nervous system disorders (including five cases of cryptococcal meningitis) and acute pulmonary pneumocystosis-like respiratory failure were major causes of morbidity. Most patients (56.9%) were at presented in advanced stages of HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS: The predominance of patients on advanced stages of HIV infection suggest the existence of a large pool of undiagnosed cases in the community. A major feature of the cohort was an inverted male to female ratio. Further investigations over a broader geographic area are urgently needed for better understanding the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of HIV infection in small Brazilian municipalities and rural areas.