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We used a cross-sectional study in 2011 to estimate prevalence and risk behaviors for self-reported symptomatic sexually transmitted infections (STI) in rural settlers in Midwestern Brazil. There were 353 individuals recruited who had been living in the settlement for more than 6 months. The endpoint variable was having reported vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, genital ulcers, or anogenital warts in the previous 12 months. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regressions were performed to identify STI correlates. A prevalence of 22.4% of self-reported symptomatic STI was found. Being female, homosexual, and/or having lived in camps were associated with self-report of STI (p < .05). The high prevalence of self-reported symptomatic STI among settlers suggested that this was a key population in the epidemiology of STI in rural regions and demands the strengthening of health promotion actions in this vulnerable population, especially for women, homosexuals, and those who previously lived in camps., (Copyright © 2018 Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We used a cross-sectional study in 2011 to estimate prevalence and risk behaviors for self-reported symptomatic sexually transmitted infections (STI) in rural settlers in Midwestern Brazil. There were 353 individuals recruited who had been living in the settlement for more than 6 months. The endpoint variable was having reported vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, genital ulcers, or anogenital warts in the previous 12 months. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regressions were performed to identify STI correlates. A prevalence of 22.4% of self-reported symptomatic STI was found. Being female, homosexual, and/or having lived in camps were associated with self-report of STI (p <.05). The high prevalence of self-reported symptomatic STI among settlers suggested that this was a key population in the epidemiology of STI in rural regions and demands the strengthening of health promotion actions in this vulnerable population, especially for women, homosexuals, and those who previously lived in camps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent decades the epidemic of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections has extended deep into Brazil, including small towns and rural areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C viruses (HCV), and to evaluate immunization coverage against hepatitis B in a group of rural workers in Brazil.Methods: In 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 937 manual sugarcane cutters of the Midwest and Northeast Regions of Brazil. All individuals were interviewed and screened for HIV, syphilis, HBV and HCV. Correlating factors with lifetime HBV infection were investigated using logistic regression. Positive Predictive Values, Negative Predictive Values, sensitivity and specificity were also calculated relative to vaccination against Hepatitis B, comparing anti-HBs titers to vaccination reports.Results: Most reported previous hospitalization (55%), occupational injuries (54%), sharing of personal items (45.8%), alcohol consumption (77.2%), multiple sexual partners in previous 12 months (39.8%), and no condom use during sexual intercourse in last 12 months (46.5%). Only 0.2% reported using injection drugs. Anti-HIV-1 was detected in three individuals (0.3%). Serological markers of lifetime syphilis (treponemal test) were detected in 2.5% (95% CI: 1.6-3.6) of participants, and active syphilis (treponemal test and VDRL) present in 1.2%. No samples were positive for anti-HCV. The prevalence of lifetime HBV infection (current or past infection) was 15.9%, and 0.7% (95% CI 0.4 to 1.5) were HBsAg-positive. Previous hospitalization (OR 1.53, CI 1.05-2.24, p < 0.01) and multiple sexual partners in the last 12 months (OR 1.80, CI 1.25-2.60, p < 0.01) were predictors for lifetime HBV infection. Although 46.7% (95% CI 43.4-49.9) of individuals reported having been vaccinated against hepatitis B, only 20.6% (95% CI 18.1-23.3) showed serological evidence of previous hepatitis B vaccination (positive for anti-HBs alone).Conclusions: The high prevalence of syphilis and HBV compared to the general population and the high frequency of risk behaviors show the potential for sexual and parenteral dissemination of these agents in this rural population. In addition, the low frequency of hepatitis B vaccinated individuals suggests a need for improved vaccination services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]