title: HIV infection and related risk behaviors in a community of recyclable waste collectors of Santos, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis and to describe risk behaviors associated to their transmission among recyclable waste collectors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A seroepidemiological survey was carried out in the city of Santos, Southeastern Brazil, in 2005. A total of 315 individuals were enrolled in the survey, of which 253 subjects underwent serological testing HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis. Statistical analysis consisted of univariate and bivariate analyses (cross-tabulation and odds ratio) and multivariate analysis (by logistic regression), relating HIV infection with established risk behaviors and seropositivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall seroprevalences were: HIV, 8.9%; hepatitis B, 34.4%; hepatitis C, 12.4%; and syphilis, 18.4%. Subjects were characterized by a predominance of males with low educational and economic levels, subjected to parenteral and sexual exposures to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Multivariate analysis results indicated that risk factors for both sexually and parenterally related exposure were significantly associated with HIV in this community.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seroprevalences found in the study were approximately 10 to 12 times higher than the national average. These communities are socially marginalized and generally not recognized by national programs as potentially endangered populations.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Católica de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mauro Abrahão
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rozman
authors.forename: Igor Santino
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Marcela Alves
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Patrícia Oliveira
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Nilva Maria
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Lucyene Aparecida Andrade
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: Marcos Monteiro
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Caseiro
authors.forename: Vera Aparecida da
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Massad
authors.forename: Marcelo Nascimento
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Burattini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D011287:Prejudice; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012934:Social Isolation; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult