Abstract

ARAUJO, Luciana Cordeiro de; FERNANDES, Regina Célia de Souza Campos; COELHO, Maria Clélia Pinto  and  MEDINA-ACOSTA, Enrique. Prevalence of HIV infection in the Voluntary Testing and Counseling Center of the City of Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, 2001-2002. Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde [online]. 2005, vol.14, n.2, pp.85-90. ISSN 1679-4974.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742005000200003.

To contribute to the planning of health actions in HIV/AIDS, the present study had as an objective to determine the prevalence of HIV infection and correlating socioeconomic and behavioral factors in users of the Voluntary Testing and Counseling Center located in the city of Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, receiving services from January 2001 to December 2002 (n=7,386). Statistical analyses were performed using Epi Info 2002 software [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)]. The prevalence of HIV infection was 0.4% in pregnant women (n=5,188), 8.1% in non-pregnant women (n=1,247) and 12.6% in men (n=951). Up to 60% of the study population had a basic educational level. Pregnant women (70.2%) were the predominant group studied, corresponding to 36% of all pregnant women in the city for the study period. The frequency of condom usage was low. Sexual intercourse with an HIV-positive partner was reported in 0.1% of pregnant women, 7.8% of non-pregnant women and 5.2% of men. AIDS-related symptoms were reported in 5.6% of men, 3.4% of non-pregnant women and 0.1% of pregnant women. This study reinforces the urgent need to expand HIV screening services, the importance of reassuring prevention policies directed at both lower socioeconomic and younger strata, as well the challenge of introducing safe practices aimed at effective prevention of HIV/AIDS in the municipality.

Keywords : HIV prevalence; HIV infection; pregnant women.

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