ABSTRACT
Introduction: Adolescents are especially susceptible to sexually transmitted infections, with approximately 1/7 of all new cases of human immunodeficiency virus infection in this group. Objective: To investigate the vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections among adolescents of the Centers for Testing and Counseling for Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Aids, CTAs, in the city of Juazeiro, state of Bahia, Brazil, from 2006 to 2012. Methods: This was an exploratory cross-sectional study that used secondary data from 1,173 adolescents. Data analysis was processed in Stata 9.0 software by descriptive statistics and Pearson's χ2 test. Results: There was predominance of female adolescents (56.86%), brown (22.85%), single (80.22%), with 811 years of education (44.76%) and stable partner (56.78%). The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections was of 5.88%, and there was statistically significant association with sex (more prevalent among girls; p=0.014), education (more common among the less educated; p=0.031) and marital status (more frequent among married/common-law; p=0.036). Conclusion: Safer sex practices and later start of sexual activity combined with empowering actions, especially girls', are important steps to reduce sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents
Introduction: Adolescents are especially susceptible to sexually transmitted infections, with approximately 1/7 of all new cases of human immunodeficiency virus infection in this group. Objective: To investigate the vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections among adolescents of the Centers for Testing and Counseling for Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Aids, CTAs, in the city of Juazeiro, state of Bahia, Brazil, from 2006 to 2012. Methods: This was an exploratory cross-sectional study that used secondary data from 1,173 adolescents. Data analysis was processed in Stata 9.0 software by descriptive statistics and Pearson's χ2 test. Results: There was predominance of female adolescents (56.86%), brown (22.85%), single (80.22%), with 811 years of education (44.76%) and stable partner (56.78%). The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections was of 5.88%, and there was statistically significant association with sex (more prevalent among girls; p=0.014), education (more common among the less educated; p=0.031) and marital status (more frequent among married/common-law; p=0.036). Conclusion: Safer sex practices and later start of sexual activity combined with empowering actions, especially girls', are important steps to reduce sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents
Subject(s)
Humans , Sexual Behavior , Sexually Transmitted Diseases , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , Sex , Adolescent , InfectionsABSTRACT
Os Centros de Testagem e Aconselhamento realizam diagnóstico e ações preventivas para doenças sexualmente transmissíveis, oferecendo testagem sorológica para HIV, sífilis e hepatites virais B e C. O objetivo da pesquisa foi traçar o perfil epidemiológico dos usuários de um Centro de Testagem e Aconselhamento da Bahia no período de 2006 a 2012, em relação a características sociodemográficas, situações de vulnerabilidade individual e prevalência de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo descritivo do tipo levantamento epidemiológico, utilizando dados secundários de serviços de saúde de 7.048 usuários, coletados dos formulários de entrada do sistema de informação dos Centros de Testagem e Aconselhamento, folha de descrição do atendimento e prontuários clínicos. A análise dos dados foi realizada por estatística descritiva, no Stata 9.0. Os resultados mostraram predomínio de mulheres (52,87%), faixa etária entre 20 a 30 anos (40,32%), casados/união estável (48,69%) e escolaridade de 8 a 11 anos (38,14%). A prevalência de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis foi 12,25%, mais frequente entre os homens, e o agravo mais prevalente foi sífilis (4,52%), seguido de infecção por HIV (3,33%), hepatites B (2,62%) e hepatite C (1,78%). O uso consistente do preservativo com parceiro fixo (17,19%) e parceiro não fixo (34,37%) foi baixo, com maior exposição do sexo feminino. Concluiu-se que a elevada prevalência de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis evidencia a situação de exposição e vulnerabilidade desta população, necessitando ações que contribuam para o empoderamento individual e coletivo na adoção de comportamentos sexuais mais seguros.
The Testing and Counseling Centers perform diagnostic and preventive actions for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, offering testing for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C. The objective of the research was to trace the epidemiological profile of the users of a Testing and Counseling Center of Bahia from 2006 to 2012, in relation to sociodemographic characteristics, situations of individual vulnerability and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. For that purpose, it was realized a descriptive study of epidemiological survey, using secondary data of health services of 7048 users, collected from input forms from the information system of Testing and Counseling Centers, service description sheet and clinical chart. The analysis was performed using descriptive statistics in Stata 9.0. There was a predominance of women (52.87%), aged 20-30 years (40.32%), married /stable union (48.69%), education between 8 to 11 years (38.14%). The Sexually Transmitted Infections prevalence was 12.25%, more frequent among men, and the most problem was syphilis (4.52%), followed by HIV (3.33%) and hepatitis B (2.62%) and hepatitis C (1.78%). Consistent condom uses with a fixed partner (17, 19%) and non-fixed partner (34.37%) was low, females were more exposed. In conclusion, the high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections shows the situation of exposure and vulnerability of this population, requiring actions that contribute to individual and collective empowerment in the adoption of safer sexual behaviors.
Los Centros de Asesoramiento y Pruebas realizan diagnóstico y prevención de enfermedades de transmisión sexual y ofrecen prueba de VIH, sífilis y hepatitis B y C. La investigación tuvo por objetivo trazar el perfil epidemiológico de los usuarios de un Centro de Asesoramiento y Pruebas de la Bahía no período de 2006 a 2012, en relación a características sociodemográficas, situaciones de vulnerabilidad individual y prevalencia de infecciones sexualmente transmisibles. Para ello fue utilizado un estudio descriptivo de tipo de levantamiento epidemiológico, utilizando datos secundarios de 7048 usuarios, recogidos de formularios de entrada del Sistema de Información del Centro de Asesoramiento y Pruebas, hoja de descripción de la atención y registros médicos. El análisis se realizó mediante estadística descriptiva en el Stata 9.0. Hubo predominio de mujeres (52,87%), edad 20-30 años (40,32%), casadas/unión estable (48.69%), educación entre 8-11 años (38,14%). La prevalencia de infecciones de transmisión sexual fue 12,25%, más frecuente entre los hombres, y la infección más prevalente fue sífilis (4,52%), seguida por VIH (3,33%) y hepatitis B (2,62%) y hepatitis C (1,78%). El uso consistente de preservativos con pareja fija (17,19%) y no fija (34,37%) fue bajo, con mayor exposición femenina. Se ha concluido que la elevada prevalencia de infecciones sexualmente transmisibles evidencia una situación de exposición y vulnerabilidad de la población, que exige acciones que contribuyan para el empoderamiento individual y colectivo en la adopción de comportamientos sexuales más seguros.