Prevalence and risk of blood-borne and sexually transmitted viral infections in incarcerated youth in Salvador, Brazil: opportunity and obligation for intervention.
To determine the prevalence of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections among incarcerated adolescents in Salvador, Brazil, we interviewed 300 incarcerated youth aged 11-18 years to participate in a physical examination and to provide a blood sample to test for HIV-1, hepatitis B and C viruses exposure, human T-cells lymphotrophic virus, and syphilis. Overall prevalence was anti-HIV, 0.34%; anti-HBc, 11.1%; HBsAg, 2.4%; anti-HCV, 6.4%; HTLV, 1.09%; and syphilis, 3.4%. The majority (86.3%) reported a history of sexual activity; 27% had never used condoms. Girls also reported previous pregnancy (35%), abortion (26%) and sexual abuse (74%). Many youth reported a family history of alcohol abuse (56%), illicit drug use (24.7%), or legal problems (38%). Serological results show that youth in Salvador are at high risk for blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections. Policies to reduce the risk and impact of these infections should be a requisite part of health care for incarcerated youth.
Fialho
Margaret
M
Centro de Referência do Estado da Bahia para AIDS (CREAIDS), Salvador, Brazil.
Messias
Márcia
M
Page-Shafer
Kimberly
K
Farre
Lourdes
L
Schmalb
Márcia
M
Pedral-Sampaio
Diana
D
Ramos
Mauro
M
Brites
Carlos
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification