title: HIV prevalence and risk factors in a Brazilian penitentiary.
abstract: HIV infection among prison inmates shows one of the highest prevalence rates for specific population subgroups, reaching as high as 17% in Brazil and elsewhere in the world. The present study aimed to estimate HIV antibody prevalence and risk factors for infection in male inmates at the Ribeirão Preto Penitentiary, São Paulo State, Brazil, from May to August 2003. Using simple random sampling, 333 participants were selected, answered a standardized questionnaire, and had blood samples collected. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence were used for HIV serological diagnosis. Overall HIV prevalence among inmates was 5.7% (95%CI: 3.2-8.2). All variables associated with HIV antibodies in the univariate analysis were submitted to unconditional multivariate logistic regression. Independent predictors of HIV infection were: total prison sentence less than five years and sharing needles and syringes.
authors: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brasil. harnoldocoelho@hotmail.com
authors: Harnoldo Colares
authors: HC
authors: Coelho
authors: Gleici Castro
authors: GC
authors: Perdoná
authors: Fátima Regina
authors: FR
authors: Neves
authors: Afonso Dinis Costa
authors: AD
authors: Passos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015483:HIV Antibodies