Seroepidemiological survey of transmissible infectious diseases in a portuguese prison establishment.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 151 (71.6%) of 211 male inmates of a regional Portuguese prison in order to establish the seroprevalence for viral hepatitis (HAV, HBV, HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis and herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and to analyze some psychosocial and criminal characteristics. Mean age was 34 years. Anti-HAV was positive in 69.5% (n = 105) and in 34.4% (n = 52) for anti-HCV. One (0.7%) person had HBsAg and 29 (19.2%) had laboratory markers of past HBV infection. Non-immune inmates for HBV were 40.4% (n = 61). Syphilis was diagnosed in 6.0% (n = 9). The rate of HIV infection was 6.6% (n = 10; all HIV-1). The seropositivity of HSV-2 was 19.9% (n = 30) and of HSV-1 was 82.1% (n = 124). Alcohol dependence was reported by 26.5% (n = 40). Excluding tobacco and prescription medication, 73.5% (n = 111) reported drug use in prison. The most commonly used drugs were: cannabis (100%; n = 111) followed by heroin (56.7%; n = 63). Anti-HCV rate was noteworthy. The HIV infection rate (6.6%) in this regional prison is at least 13 to 22 times greater than in general population. As the inmate return to the community increases the risk of disease exposure for the general population, early detection and counseling is urgently needed for prisoners.

Seroepidemiological survey of transmissible infectious diseases in a portuguese prison establishment

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 151 (71.6 percent) of 211 male inmates of a regional Portuguese prison in order to establish the seroprevalence for viral hepatitis (HAV, HBV, HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis and herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and to analyze some psychosocial and criminal characteristics. Mean age was 34 years. Anti-HAV was positive in 69.5 percent (n = 105) and in 34.4 percent (n = 52) for anti-HCV. One (0.7 percent) person had HBsAg and 29 (19.2 percent) had laboratory markers of past HBV infection. Non-immune inmates for HBV were 40.4 percent (n = 61). Syphilis was diagnosed in 6.0 percent (n = 9). The rate of HIV infection was 6.6 percent (n = 10; all HIV-1). The seropositivity of HSV-2 was 19.9 percent (n = 30) and of HSV-1 was 82.1 percent (n = 124). Alcohol dependence was reported by 26.5 percent (n = 40). Excluding tobacco and prescription medication, 73.5 percent (n = 111) reported drug use in prison. The most commonly used drugs were: cannabis (100 percent; n = 111) followed by heroin (56.7 percent; n = 63). Anti-HCV rate was noteworthy. The HIV infection rate (6.6 percent) in this regional prison is at least 13 to 22 times greater than in general population. As the inmate return to the community increases the risk of disease exposure for the general population, early detection and counseling is urgently needed for prisoners.

[Adherence to HAART, quality of life and psychopathological symptoms among HIV/AIDS infected patients]. / Adesão à HAART, qualidade de vida e sintomat ologia psicopat ológica em doentes infectados pelo VIH/SIDA.

OBJECTIVES: Patient adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is essential to treatment success, and improved quality of life (QoL) and mental health have been recognized as important outcomes from the HIV treatment. However, very few published research studies have related these domains to HAART adherence. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between adherence to HAART, QoL and psychopathological symptoms in a sample of HIV-infected patients, and to identify demographic, clinical and psychological predictors of non-adherence. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the main services/departments of infectious diseases of Portuguese Hospitals. The sample consisted of 762 HIV-infected patients. The assessment protocol included the Portuguese versions of the WHOQOLHIV-Bref and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). RESULTS: Of the 762 patients, 133 (17.5%) reported not to fully adhere to HIV medication. Non-adherent patients reported significantly lower QoL. Follow-up tests reported significant differences in four of six domains, with the exception of Social relationships and Spirituality domains. Regarding psychopathological symptoms, there was also a significant effect. Follow-up tests reported a significant difference only on psychoticism. In multivariate logistic regression, younger individuals, people diagnosed and on medication for longer time, with lower CD4+ T cell count, on symptomatic/AIDS stage and with higher scores on interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety and psychoticism were more likely to be non-adherents. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies assessing HAART adherence should consider the interplay of demographic and HIV-related variables, as well as psychological status. Also, it may help to elicit those people who are at risk for non-adherence, as well as poorer quality of life and mental health.