Prevalence of HIV-1, HIV-2 and HTLV antibody, in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil, 1993-1994
Broutet, N.; de Queiroz Sousa, A.; Basilio, F.P.; Sá, H.L.; Simon, F.; Dabis, F.
International Journal of Std and Aids 7(5): 365-369
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0956-4624 PMID: 8894828 DOI: 10.1258/0956462961918103Document Number: 301291
During July 1993 to February 1994, in Ceara state, Brazil, researchers conducted a cross-sectional seroepidemiological survey of 814 pregnant women, 451 tuberculosis patients, 395 sexually transmitted disease (STD) patients, 496 female and 171 male commercial sex workers (CSWs), and 427 prisoners. They aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV-1, HIV-2, and human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV). All subjects lived in Fortaleza, where the HIV epidemic is recent. They tended to be poorly educated, poor, and not married. 28 persons were positive for HIV-1. The HIV-1 prevalence rate ranged from 0.25% in pregnant women to 2.92% in male CSWs. It was 0.44% for tuberculosis patients, 1.01% for STD patients, 1.61% for female CSWs, and 1.64% for prisoners. Indeterminate results occurred in 0.4% of all subjects. They were more common in tuberculosis patients than in other groups (1.1% vs. 0.3%; p = 0.023). No one tested positive for HIV-2. The prevalence of HTLV-I ranged from 0.12% in pregnant women to 1.21% in female CSWs. It was 0.44% for tuberculosis patients, 0.51% for STD patients, 0.58% for male CSWs, and 0.47% for prisoners. Five people (1 pregnant woman, 1 tuberculosis patient, 1 female CSW, and 2 prisoners) tested positive for HTLV-II. A 45-year-old, homosexual CSW, intravenous drug user who had tuberculosis was coinfected with HIV-1 and HTLV-I. The most common risk factor for HIV-1 infection was never used condoms (48% for female CSWs to 89% for STD patients). These findings indicate that Fortaleza has a low endemicity for HIV-1 infection and that HIV-1 is still limited to high risk groups (e.g., CSWs). The authors recommend that periodic cross-sectional surveys be conducted to study the dynamics of HIV-1 infection in this low prevalence area.