Sexual behaviour and infection rates for HIV, blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections among patients attending drug treatment centres in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A survey was carried out in 2 drug use treatment centres (TCs) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to assess risk behaviours, HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections/blood-borne infections (STIs/BBIs). Two hundred and twenty-five drug users (195 males and 30 females) were interviewed and clinically examined, and their blood and urine were tested for STIs/BBIs. Prevalences (%) for these infections were as follows--HIV: 0.9, hepatitis B virus (HBV): 14.7, hepatitis C virus (HCV): 5.8, syphilis: 5.3, gonorrhoea/chlamydia (CT/NG): 4.7. In bivariate analyses CT/NG infection was associated with younger age (P=0.003); current genitourinary symptoms (odds ratio [OR]=6.2) and a mainly illegal source of income (OR=9.1). Hepatitis C infection was associated with a history of ever having injected any drug (OR=19.6), and with each one of the injected drugs. After multiple logistic regression, lower educational level (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=3.70) and 'ever having injected drugs' (AOR=3.69) remained as independent risk factors for hepatitis B infection. In conclusion, TCs must implement programmes directed towards the prevention of STIs/BBIs.
Bastos
F I
FI
Department of Health Information (DIS/CICT), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Lowndes
C M
CM
Castello-Branco
L R
LR
Linhares-de-Carvalho
M I
MI
Oelemann
W
W
Bernier
F
F
Morgado
M G
MG
Yoshida
C F
CF
Rozental
T
T
Alary
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*