[Stigma, discrimination and HIV/AIDS in the Brazilian context, 1998 and 2005].
OBJECTIVE
To identify discriminatory attitudes in two moments of the Brazilian HIV/AIDS epidemic, as well as the occurrence of possible changes.


METHODS
The Intention of Discrimination Index was obtained by scoring 1 for discriminatory situations or 0, when the opposite was the case. Intention of discrimination ranges were established by means of the clustering technique, and made compatible between the 1998 and 2005 surveys. Mean comparisons, chi-square test and ordered logit adjusted regression models were used to verify association between the index and socio-demographic variables.


RESULTS
Between the 1998 and 2005 surveys, there was a statistically significant reduction in the proportion of people who answered "yes" to anti-HIV test's being mandatory in the following cases: admission for employment, before getting married, when joining the military service, drug users, foreigners entering the country, sex professionals, and for all the people. To have lower level of education, to be female, to live in the North/Northeast regions of Brazil, and to be aged over 45 years are factors associated with higher intention of discrimination level.


CONCLUSIONS
The growth of intention of discrimination shows that information about ways of AIDS transmission and non-transmission still needs to be better planned and promoted, especially among populations that have lower level of education, live in the North/Northeast regions, are female and aged over 45 years.
Garcia
Sandra
S
Area de População e Sociedade, Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. sandragarcia@cebrap.org.br
Koyama
Mitti Ayako Hara
MA
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000592:standards; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018580:Mandatory Testing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice; D011477:Sex Work; D013240:Stereotyping