ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the impact of worksite-based AIDS prevention program among port workers in Santos, Brazil, on sexual risk behavior for HIV infection. METHODS: Male port workers (n = 226) were followed in a 3-wave prospective cohort study. A multifaceted intervention costing US $90,000 for 20,000 workers was conducted between waves 2 and 3. RESULTS: Heterosexual risk behavior showed no decline between waves 1 and 2 (before the intervention) but decreased substantially between waves 2 and 3 (after the intervention). This decrease resulted from both a decrease in nonprimary partners and an increase in condom use. CONCLUSIONS: This worksite-based AIDS program produced marked behavior change at modest cost.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/prevention & control , Health Education/organization & administration , Occupational Health Services/organization & administration , Adult , Brazil , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Male , Program Evaluation , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Risk-Taking , Sexual Behavior , Ships , Surveys and Questionnaires , Urban HealthABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of HIV and syphilis and related risk behavior in a sample of truck drivers in Santos, Brazil. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed of 300 male truck drivers recruited in the port of Santos, Brazil, including a face-to-face interview and blood sampling for HIV and syphilis serology. RESULTS: Of 300 subjects, 4 (1.3%) were positive for HIV, 25 (8.3%) for syphilis by the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test and 38 (13%) were positive for syphilis by the fluorescent treponemal antibody (absorbed) test (FTA-Abs). Seventy-one per cent had been employed as truck drivers for more than 10 years and 93% lived outside of Santos. Most participants were married (72%); 40% reported having more than one sex partner; 21% reported sex with commercial sex workers; 14% reported sex with girls that they met on the road; 16% had sex with other men's wives; and 3.3% reported sex with men during the past year. The use of rebite, an oral stimulant, was reported by 43% and was associated with being FTA-Abs-positive (P = 0.04). Being HIV-positive was associated with having sex with friends (P = 0.04), partners usually considered 'safe' by truck drivers. Being syphilis-positive (VDRL) was significantly associated with sex with partners also considered as 'safe', namely primary sex partners, steady partners and other men's wives. DISCUSSION: This is the first study to determine HIV and syphilis seroprevalence among truck drivers in South America. Findings confirm that this group has a high potential risk for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases, and thus currently presents an opportunity for prevention.
Subject(s)
HIV Infections/epidemiology , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology , Adult , Brazil/epidemiology , HIV Infections/transmission , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Risk-Taking , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/transmission , TransportationABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This paper measured the extent to which human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has spread among the male working-class population of Santos, Brazil. METHODS: Questionnaires on risk behaviors and blood tests were administered to a random sample (n = 395) of male port workers employed by the Santos Port Authority. RESULTS: Although the rate of HIV infection among these men- the working-class male population of Santos-remains low (1.1%), self-reported behavioral risks for HIV infection are common. CONCLUSIONS: There is still time to prevent a widespread outbreak of HIV infection among the hetero-sexual population of Santos and of the transportation corridors emanating from that city.
