Prevalência e fatores associados à infecção por sífilis, HIV, hepatite B e C em população ribeirinha

Abstract

Introduction: Viral hepatitis B and C, HIV and syphilis are important Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including the riverside population. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of syphilis, HIV and viral hepatitis B and C and the associated factors in the riverside population living in the city of João Pessoa. Method: Cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach involving 250 people living in five riverside communities. Data were collected through individual and private interviews using a structured questionnaire with sociodemographic, sexual behavior and use of legal and illegal drugs questions and the Test for Identifying Problems Related to Alcohol Use (AUDIT). The investigation of the occurrence of STIs was carried out by means of rapid screening tests for hepatitis B and C, for HIV and for syphilis. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CAAE: 13419819.3.0000.5188). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: There was a predominance of females (68.0%); aged between 18 and 39 years (43.2%), with up to eight years of study (62.0%); married or in a consensual union (64.0%). The prevalence for STIs investigated by means of rapid tests was 12.8% (95% CI: 8.8-16.4) in 32 individuals who presented reactive results. 29 cases of syphilis were detected with a prevalence of 11.6% (95% CI: 7.5-15.6); anti-HIV type 1 in two individuals with a prevalence of 0.8%; (95% CI: 0-1.2); infection by the hepatitis B virus in an individual 0.8% (95% CI: 0-1.2) and no test was shown to be reactive for the hepatitis C virus. The use of alcohol, sexual intercourse before the age of 15 age, the number of sexual partners in the last 12 months, whether you received money or paid in exchange for sex, if you have a history of imprisonment and a history of previous STIs were statistically significant with the occurrence of the STIs investigated. The prevalence of alcohol use among the total of interviewed residents was 45.2% (95% CI: 39.0-51.4). Regarding the pattern of excessive alcohol use, referring to zones II to IV of the AUDIT (cutoff value ≥ 8), the prevalence was 30.4% (95% CI: 24.7-36.1). It was observed that the pattern of excessive alcohol use significantly increases the risk of prevalence of syphilis, hepatitis B and HIV according to the positivity of the rapid tests (ARR = 11.86% OR = 2.63; 95% CI 1.24-5, 60). Conclusion: the study population has a high prevalence for syphilis and the presence of risk behaviors associated with the occurrence of sexually transmitted infections, characterizing the riverside population with vulnerabilities to these infections.