title: Socio-demographic and epidemiological characteristics associated with human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) infection in HIV-1-exposed but uninfected individuals, and in HIV-1-infected patients from a southern Brazilian population.
abstract: The ability to control human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and progression of the disease is regulated by host and viral factors. This cross-sectional study describes the socio-demographic and epidemiological characteristics associated with HIV-1 infection in 1,061 subjects attended in Londrina and region, south of Brazil: 136 healthy individuals (Group 1), 147 HIV-1-exposed but uninfected individuals (Group 2), 161 HIV-1-infected asymptomatic patients (Group 3), and 617 patients with AIDS (Group 4). Data were obtained by a standardized questionnaire and serological tests. The age of the individuals ranged from 15.1 to 79.5 years, 54.0% and 56.1% of the Groups 3 and 4 patients, respectively, were men. The major features of groups 2, 3, and 4 were a predominance of education level up to secondary school (55.8%, 60.2% and 62.4%, respectively), sexual route of exposure (88.4%, 87.0% and 82.0%, respectively), heterosexual behavior (91.8%, 75.2% and 83.7%, respectively), and previous sexually transmitted diseases (20.4%, 32.5%, and 38.1%, respectively). The patients with AIDS showed the highest rates of seropositivity for syphilis (25.6%), of anti-HCV (22.3%), and anti-HTLV I/II obtained by two serological screening tests (6.2% and 6.8%, respectively). The results documenting the predominant characteristics for HIV-1 infection among residents of Londrina and region, could be useful for the improvement of current HIV-1 prevention, monitoring and therapeutic programs targeted at this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Clinical Analysis and Toxicology, Health Sciences Center, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. reiche@sercomtel.com.br
authors.forename: Edna Maria Vissoci
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Reiche
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bonametti
authors.forename: Maria Angélica Ehara
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Helena Kaminami
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Arilson Akira
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Susana Lilian
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wiechmann
authors.forename: José Wander
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Breganó
authors.forename: Tiemi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Fernando Vissoci
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Reiche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors