HIV prevalence among female sex workers, drug users and men who have sex with men in Brazil: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Brazilian response towards AIDS epidemic is well known, but the absence of a systematic review of vulnerable populations ─ men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW), and drug users (DU) remains a main gap in the available literature. Our goal was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies assessing HIV prevalence among MSM, FSW and DU, calculating a combined pooled prevalence and summarizing factors associated the pooled prevalence for each group.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nine electronic databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, AIDSLINE, AMED, CINAHL, TOXNET, SciELO, and ISI-Web of Science) were searched for peer-reviewed papers published in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese, from 1999 to 2009. To be included in the review, studies had to measure HIV prevalence and/or incidence as the primary outcome among at least one specific population under analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The studies targeting the three populations analyzed mostly young participants aged 30 years or less. Among FSW, eight studies were selected (3,625 participants), consistently identifying higher condom use with sexual clients than with occasional and stable partners. The combined HIV prevalence for FSW was 6.2 (95% CI: 4.4-8.3). Ten studies targeting MSM were identified (6,475 participants). Unprotected anal intercourse was commonly reported on those studies, but with great variability according to the nature of the relationship - stable vs. occasional sex partners - and sexual practice - receptive vs. insertive anal sex. Pooled HIV prevalence for MSM was 13.6 (95% CI: 8.2-20.2). Twenty nine studies targeting DU were identified (13,063 participants). Those studies consistently identified injection drug use and syringe/needle sharing as key predictors of HIV-infection, as well as engagement in sex work and male-to-male sex. The combined HIV prevalence across studies targeting DU was 23.1 (95% CI: 16.7-30.2).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>FSW, MSM and DU from Brazil have a much risk of acquiring HIV infection compared to the general population, among which HIV prevalence has been relatively low (~0.6%). Those vulnerable populations should be targeted by focused prevention strategies that provide accurate information, counseling and testing, as well as concrete means to foster behavior change (e.g. access to condoms, drug abuse treatment, and clean syringes in the case of active injecting drug users), tailored to gender and culture-specific needs. Programs that provide these services need to be implemented on public health services throughout the country, in order to decrease the vulnerability of those populations to HIV infection.</p

Women and AIDS: gender relations and condom use with steady partners Mulheres e AIDS: relações de gênero e uso do condom com parceiro estável

An educational project on sexuality, STDs, and AIDS was conducted for four years with some 500 women. As a result, changes were observed in HIV-related knowledge and attitudes, but not in risk behaviors for infection. This fact motivated the development of a qualitative study to learn the reasons why women failed to incorporate HIV preventive behaviors into their daily lives. Six focus groups were conducted with women who had participated in the educational project. The analysis was thematic. Women were familiar with HIV transmission routes and preventive measures. They admitted not using condoms due to fear of being suspected of infidelity and because this might lead to separation of the couple. Women reported that relationships with their partners had been difficult because of lack of dialogue and that men always had the final word. Although women had information about AIDS, they did not use preventive measures in steady relationships because they did not wield decision-making power. Gender inequality and fidelity were two significant issues related to the increase in AIDS among women.<br>Um projeto educativo sobre sexualidade, DST e AIDS foi realizado durante quatro anos com cerca de quinhentas mulheres. Como resultado, houve mudanças em conhecimentos e atitudes em relação ao HIV, mas não em comportamentos de risco para a infecção. Isto motivou a realização de um estudo qualitativo para conhecer as razões pelas quais as medidas de prevenção de AIDS não são incorporadas ao cotidiano das mulheres. Foram realizados seis grupos focais com mulheres que haviam participado do projeto educativo citado. A análise foi temática. As mulheres citaram todas as vias de transmissão e prevenção de AIDS. Reconheceram que não usavam condom porque tinham medo de despertar suspeita de infidelidade e provocar a separação do casal. Relataram que a relação a dois era difícil por falta de diálogo e que a palavra final era sempre do homem. Apesar das mulheres terem informação e conhecerem os riscos, não usavam medidas preventivas em relacionamento estável porque não tinham poder de decisão. Relações desiguais de gênero e questões relacionadas à fidelidade foram apontadas como fatores que contribuem para a disseminação do HIV nas mulheres

Alimentação nos primeiros três meses de vida dos bebês de uma coorte na cidade de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul Alimentación en los primeros tres meses de vida de los bebés de una coorte en la ciudad de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil) Feeding during the first three months of life for infants of a cohort in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Estudar o padrão alimentar nos primeiros três meses de vida de crianças nascidas na cidade de Pelotas (RS). MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte prospectivo com os bebês nascidos entre setembro de 2002 e maio de 2003, na cidade de Pelotas (RS). Incluíram-se 2.741 bebês nas maternidades e uma amostra aleatória de 30% acompanhada no primeiro e terceiro meses de vida. Foram realizadas análises uni, bi e multivariada. Somente as variáveis com p<0,05 foram consideradas associadas ao desfecho de forma significante. RESULTADOS: Foram acompanhados 951 bebês no primeiro mês, dos quais 60% estavam em aleitamento materno exclusivo e 10% já estavam desmamados. As variáveis associadas ao desmame, neste período, foram: tabagismo na gravidez, escolaridade do pai inferior a quatro anos e uso de chupeta. No terceiro mês, 940 crianças foram acompanhadas: 29% haviam desmamado, 39% recebiam leite materno exclusivo e 59% utilizavam mamadeira. Tabagismo materno, escolaridade paterna e uso de chupeta, mantiveram-se associados ao desmame precoce. Houve aumento do uso de chupeta de 56 para 66% do primeiro para o terceiro mês, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: Comparado a estudos anteriores, evidenciou-se melhora nos índices de aleitamento materno, embora ainda inferiores aos valores ideais preconizados pela Organização Mundial de Saúde, o que ressalta a necessidade de estimulação à prática de aleitamento materno exclusivo no pré-natal e nos primeiros meses de vida.<br>OBJETIVO: Estudiar el estándar alimentar en los primeros tres meses de vida de niños nascidos en la ciudad de Pelotas (RS, Brasil). MÉTODOS: Estudio de coorte prospectivo con bebés nascidos entre septiembre de 2002 y mayo de 2003, en la ciudad de Pelotas (RS, Brasil). Se incluyó a 2.741 bebés en las maternidades y una muestra aleatoria de 30%, seguida en el primero y el tercero meses de vida. Se realizaron análisis uni, bi y multivariados, y solamente las variables con p<0,05 fueron consideradas asociadas al desfecho de modo estadísticamente significativo. RESULTADOS: Se siguió a 951 bebés el primer mes, de los que el 60% estaba en lactancia materna exclusiva y el 10% ya estaban desmamados. Las variables asociadas al destete en ese periodo fueron: tabaquismo en el embarazo, escolaridad del padre inferior a cuatro años y uso de chupete. En el tercer mes, 940 niños fueron seguidos: el 29% estaba desmamado, el 39% recibía leche materna exclusiva y el 59% usaba biberón. Tabaquismo materno, escolaridad paterna y uso de chupete se mantuvieron asociados al destete temprano. Hubo aumento del uso de chupete de 56 para 66% del primero para el tercer mes, respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: Comparado a estudios anteriores, el presente estudio evidenció mejora en los índices de lactancia materna, aunque todavía inferiores a los valores ideales preconizados por la Organización Mundial de Salud, lo que pone de relieve la necesidad de estimulación práctica de lactancia materna exclusiva en el pre-natal y los primeros meses de vida.<br>OBJECTIVE: To study the feeding pattern in the first three months of babies born in the Pelotas city, in Sothern Brazil. METHODS: Prospective cohort study, with babies born between september 2002 and may 2003. Among 2,741 babies whose mothers were interviewed at the maternity ward, a random sample of 30% was followed up on the first and third months of age. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were applied. Variables with a p<0.05 were considered as associated. RESULTS: 951 babies were followed up on the first month, 60% were under exclusive maternal breastfeeding, and 10% were already weaned. Smoking during pregnancy, father's educational level lower than four years and the use of a pacifier were associated to weaning. On the third month, 29% had been weaned, 39% received maternal milk exclusively, and 59% were bottle fed. Smoking during pregnancy, father schooling and the use of a pacifier were associated with weaning. There was an increase in the pacifier use - from 56 to 66% between the first and the third month of life. CONCLUSIONS: When compared to previous studies, an improvement on the rates of breastfeeding was shown, though still lower than World Health Organization recommendations, which highlights the need for stimulation of exclusive breastfeeding during prenatal care and during the first months after birth

High prevalence of HTLV-1 and 2 viruses in pregnant women in São Luis, state of Maranhão, Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is endemic in the Caribbean, Japan, South America and regions of Africa. HTLV-2 is present in Native American populations and associated with IV drug use in Europe and North America. In Brazil, it is estimated that 1.5 million people are infected with HTLV-1/2. The study objective was to determine HTLV-1/2 prevalence in pregnant women in the prenatal care from three public services in São Luis, State of Maranhão, Brazil, and to counsel seropositive women to reduce viral transmission. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to December 2008; women with age of 18 to 45 years, with low risk for sexually transmitted disease (STD) were invited to participate. Blood samples were collected in filter paper, and HTLV-1/2 immunoenzymatic test (ELISA) was performed as a screening test. Women with reactive results were submitted to peripheral venous blood collection for ELISA repetition, followed by Western blot (WB) and real-time PCR to confirm and discriminate the infection between virus types 1 and 2. RESULTS: Of the 2,044 women tested, seven (0.3%) were ELISA reactive and confirmed positive (four were HTLV-1, and three were HTLV-2). All positive women were oriented not to breastfeed their newborns. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the virus is present in high prevalence in that population. Further studies covering other segments of the population are necessary to better characterize the presence of HTLV-1/2 in Maranhão and to elicit measures to prevent its spread