HIV risk behavior and medical status of underprivileged youths in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
METHODS
From June 1989 to April 1991, 394 adolescents aged 10-18 years randomly selected upon admission at a state shelter in Belo Horizonte, Brazil underwent health history interview, physical examination, serology for HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis, and stool examination. Participants were classified as street-based youths (n = 195) or home-based youths (n = 199). The age distribution was similar in both groups, although males were overrepresented among street-based youths (79.5% versus 62.3%).


RESULTS
Compared with home-based youths, street-based youths reported earlier onset (p = 0.009) and higher rates of sexual activity (odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-3.3), sexual abuse (OR, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.2-10.1), and sexually transmitted diseases (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.3-6.6). Overall condom use was low in both groups. Street-based youths were 7.8 times more likely to use drugs than home-based youths (95% CI, 4.9-12.7). Inhalants and marijuana were the more commonly used drugs. Intravenous drug use was low.


CONCLUSIONS
Although chronic malnutrition and multiple parasitosis were common findings in both groups, street-based youths were more likely to present disorders related to trauma and poor hygienic conditions. Antibodies to HIV were detected in four (2%) street-based youths and in none of the home-based youths. This study confirms that street youths are at higher risk for HIV infection than their home-based peers and indicates a need for HIV prevention programs targeting this population.
Service of Parasitic and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
J A
JA
Pinto
A J
AJ
Ruff
J V
JV
Paiva
C M
CM
Antunes
I K
IK
Adams
N A
NA
Halsey
D B
DB
Greco
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D015438:Health Behavior; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking