Social distribution of AIDS in Brazil, according to labor market participation, occupation and socioeconomic status of cases from 1987 to 1998
Fonseca, M.Goretti.P.; Travassos, Cáudia.; Bastos, F.Inácio.; Silva, N.do.Valle.; Szwarcwald, Célia.Landmann.
Cadernos de Saude Publica 19(5): 1351-1363
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0102-311X PMID: 14666216 Document Number: 251009
The dynamics of AIDS epidemic in Brazil, was analysed by occupation taken as a proxy for individual socioeconomic status (SES). The analysis comprised AIDS cases aged 20-49 years and diagnosed during 1987-98. The temporal trend in AIDS incidence rates was analysed by sex, occupational category and quintiles defined by a Brazilian scale for SES. The proportions of AIDS cases stratified by SES quintiles were analysed by exposure category. Among men, the incidence rates increased in the first time period in almost all occupational categories, and decreased among those classified as "non-manual" occupations during the 2nd period. Among females, an annual increment was observed from 1987 to 1998 in nearly all occupational strata. The highest relative increases were observed among the lowest SES scales for both sexes. The intravenous drug user (IDU) exposure category had the lowest socioeconomic status for both sexes, whereas the homo/bisexual category had the highest. The analysis highlighted a progressive change in the epidemic's social gradient during the period, with a faster spread among the lower socioeconomic strata.