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Epidemiologic features of HIV infection in three municipalities of inner Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.
- Source :
-
Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo [Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo] 2007 Sep-Oct; Vol. 49 (5), pp. 303-7. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- 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.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0036-4665
- Volume :
- 49
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 18026637
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1590/s0036-46652007000500006