The vulnerability of Brazilian female prisoners to HIV infection

Autor(es)

L. Strazza ^[1] ; R.S. Azevedo ^[2] ; H.B. Carvalho ^[3] ; E. Massad ^[4]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Patologia

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Medicina Legal - Brasil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 37, n. 5, p. 771-776, 2004-05-00.

Resumo

The purpose of the present study was to determine the vulnerability of women in prison to HIV infection. The study was carried out from August to October 2000 in a São Paulo State Penitentiary, where 299 female prisoners were serving time. We interviewed and obtained a blood sample from 290 females who agreed to enter the study. Sera were tested for the presence of antibodies to HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis and the odds ratio (OR) was calculated for variables related to HIV positivity on the basis of a questionnaire. The overall prevalence data were: 13.9% for HIV (37 of 267), 22.8% for syphilis (66 of 290), and 16.2% for HCV (47 of 290). Sexual partnership variables were significantly related to HIV infection. These included HIV-positive partners (OR = 7.36, P = 0.0001), casual partners (OR = 8.96, P = 0.009), injectable drug user partners (OR = 4.7, P = 0.0001), and history of sexually transmitted disease (OR = 2.07, P = 0.05). In addition, a relationship was detected between HIV infection and drug use (OR = 2.48, P = 0.04) and injectable drug use (OR = 4.2, P = 0.002). Even women with only one partner presented a significant OR for HIV infection (OR = 2.57, P = 0.009), reflecting their vulnerability due to their trust in their partner, who did not use a condom. Although the use of injectable substances is associated with HIV infection, our results point to sexual behavior as the most important component of HIV transmission in the female prisoner population. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 99/11162-2 - Determinantes dos riscos para a Infecção pelo HIV em mulheres presas na penitenciária feminina de São Paulo, Brasil
• Beneficiário: Leila Strazza de Azevedo
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado