Risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus infection among blood donors in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and their relevance to current donor deferral criteria.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to investigate risk factors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive blood donors in Brazil and to determine if current donor deferral criteria are appropriate.


METHODS
Demographic and behavioral data among cases with confirmed HIV seropositivity (n = 272) were compared with those who had a false-positive serology (n = 468) between January 1999 and December 2003 in a case-control analysis with logistic regression.


RESULTS
Risk factors that should have resulted in predonation deferral were reported by 48.9 percent of HIV-positive and 9.4 percent of false-positive donors. In multivariate analysis, male cases were significantly more likely to report male-male sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 26.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.8-87.4), a previous sexually transmitted disease diagnosis (AOR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.5-6.9), exchanging money for sex (AOR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0-4.2), and at least two partners in the past 12 months (AOR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4-3.6). HIV-positive male donors were also more likely to be reactive for the presence of hepatitis C virus antibody (AOR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.3-12.0) and hepatitis B virus core antibody (AOR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.9-7.7). Female cases were more likely to report an intravenous drug user partner (AOR, 12.4; 95% CI, 1.3-120.2), a sexual partner with multiple sex partners or who had a history of sex with a sex worker (AOR, 13.0; 95% CI, 2.7-63.2), and at least two partners in the past 12 months (AOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.0-5.3).


CONCLUSIONS
A substantial number of HIV-infected donors reported a risk factor that could have been identified in the predonation screening. Male-male sexual behavior was still the strongest determinant of HIV status in the studied population.
de Almeida Neto
Cesar
C
Pro-Blood Foundation, Blood Center of Sao Paulo, Brazil. cesarnt@uol.com.br
McFarland
William
W
Murphy
Edward L
EL
Chen
Sanny
S
Nogueira
Fatima Aparecida Hangai
FA
Mendrone
Alfredo
A
Salles
Nanci Alves
NA
Chamone
Dalton Alencar Fischer
DA
Sabino
Ester Cerdeira
EC
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology