Abstract
Homeless men present high vulnerability to HIV infection, mainly due to sexual risk behaviors and substance use. The objective was to estimate the prevalence of HIV infection, risk behaviors and substance use in homeless men. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 481 homeless men recruited in four therapeutic communities in the Goiás State, Central Brazil. All were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and risk behaviors. Furthermore, all were tested for HIV. Poisson regression was used to verify factors associated with HIV infection. HIV prevalence was 1.24% (95.0% CI: 0.57 to 2.69%). Previous HIV testing (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR]: 10.0; 95.0% CI: 1.86–55.8) and years of education (APR: 0.76; 95.0% CI: 0.60–0.97) were factors associated with HIV infection. Participants had high rates of hazardous alcohol use and illicit drug use. The prevalence of HIV infection among homeless men was higher than that found in the Brazilian male population and we identified a high rate of risk behaviors for HIV among the homeless men investigated. Thus, it is necessary to expand HIV prevention measures in Brazil, such as health education, condom availability, regular HIV testing and increased testing coverage in this population, and treatment for alcohol and/or illicit drug dependence/abuse.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1084-1088 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | International Journal of STD and AIDS |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- high-risk behaviors
- homeless
- Human immunodeficiency virus
- South America
- substance use
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Pharmacology (medical)
- Infectious Diseases
Cite this
HIV infection, high-risk behaviors and substance use in homeless men sheltered in therapeutic communities in Central Brazil. / Brunini, Sandra M.; Barros, Cleiciane V.de Lima; Guimarães, Rafael Alves; Galdino Júnior, Hélio; Rezza, Giovanni; Santos, Jordana R.S.; da Cunha, Vanessa E.; Sousa, Johnatan M.; Ferreira, Priscilla M.; Barros, David A.Costa.
In: International Journal of STD and AIDS, Vol. 29, No. 11, 01.10.2018, p. 1084-1088.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - HIV infection, high-risk behaviors and substance use in homeless men sheltered in therapeutic communities in Central Brazil
AU - Brunini, Sandra M.
AU - Barros, Cleiciane V.de Lima
AU - Guimarães, Rafael Alves
AU - Galdino Júnior, Hélio
AU - Rezza, Giovanni
AU - Santos, Jordana R.S.
AU - da Cunha, Vanessa E.
AU - Sousa, Johnatan M.
AU - Ferreira, Priscilla M.
AU - Barros, David A.Costa
PY - 2018/10/1
Y1 - 2018/10/1
N2 - Homeless men present high vulnerability to HIV infection, mainly due to sexual risk behaviors and substance use. The objective was to estimate the prevalence of HIV infection, risk behaviors and substance use in homeless men. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 481 homeless men recruited in four therapeutic communities in the Goiás State, Central Brazil. All were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and risk behaviors. Furthermore, all were tested for HIV. Poisson regression was used to verify factors associated with HIV infection. HIV prevalence was 1.24% (95.0% CI: 0.57 to 2.69%). Previous HIV testing (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR]: 10.0; 95.0% CI: 1.86–55.8) and years of education (APR: 0.76; 95.0% CI: 0.60–0.97) were factors associated with HIV infection. Participants had high rates of hazardous alcohol use and illicit drug use. The prevalence of HIV infection among homeless men was higher than that found in the Brazilian male population and we identified a high rate of risk behaviors for HIV among the homeless men investigated. Thus, it is necessary to expand HIV prevention measures in Brazil, such as health education, condom availability, regular HIV testing and increased testing coverage in this population, and treatment for alcohol and/or illicit drug dependence/abuse.
AB - Homeless men present high vulnerability to HIV infection, mainly due to sexual risk behaviors and substance use. The objective was to estimate the prevalence of HIV infection, risk behaviors and substance use in homeless men. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 481 homeless men recruited in four therapeutic communities in the Goiás State, Central Brazil. All were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and risk behaviors. Furthermore, all were tested for HIV. Poisson regression was used to verify factors associated with HIV infection. HIV prevalence was 1.24% (95.0% CI: 0.57 to 2.69%). Previous HIV testing (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR]: 10.0; 95.0% CI: 1.86–55.8) and years of education (APR: 0.76; 95.0% CI: 0.60–0.97) were factors associated with HIV infection. Participants had high rates of hazardous alcohol use and illicit drug use. The prevalence of HIV infection among homeless men was higher than that found in the Brazilian male population and we identified a high rate of risk behaviors for HIV among the homeless men investigated. Thus, it is necessary to expand HIV prevention measures in Brazil, such as health education, condom availability, regular HIV testing and increased testing coverage in this population, and treatment for alcohol and/or illicit drug dependence/abuse.
KW - high-risk behaviors
KW - homeless
KW - Human immunodeficiency virus
KW - South America
KW - substance use
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85048048327&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85048048327&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0956462418767188
DO - 10.1177/0956462418767188
M3 - Article
VL - 29
SP - 1084
EP - 1088
JO - International Journal of STD and AIDS
JF - International Journal of STD and AIDS
SN - 0956-4624
IS - 11
ER -