Assessing risk behaviors and prevalence of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections among female crack cocaine users in salvador - Bahia, Brazil
Braz. j. infect. dis
;
11(6): 561-566, Dec. 2007. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-476626
ABSTRACT
Crack cocaine use is associated with risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. We investigated sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics and infection rates in female crack cocaine users from impoverished communities of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. A sample of 125 female crack cocaine users was recruited. Overall, the interviewees had low educational level and high rate of unemployment (close to 90 percent). One-third (37 percent) reported having traded sex for money or drugs, and 58 percent reported that they had not used condoms during intercourse in the last 30 days. The prevalence of infections was low HIV-1.6 percent; HCV-2.4 percent; HBV- 0.8 percent; HTLV I/II-4.0 percent; and syphilis-4.0 percent. The combination of dire poverty and high prevalence of risk behaviors turn such populations a preferential target of initiatives aiming to reduce drug-related harm and promote social development. Low infection rates should not be viewed with complacency, but as a window of opportunity to implement prevention initiatives and reduce social marginalization.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Sexual Behavior
/
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
/
Crack Cocaine
/
Cocaine-Related Disorders
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Etiology study
/
Prevalence study
/
Qualitative research
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. j. infect. dis
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
Year:
2007
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
/
United States
Institution/Affiliation country:
Bahiana Foundation for Science Development/BR
/
Federal University of Bahia/BR
/
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/BR
/
University of California at Berkeley/US
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