Is human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome decreasing among Brazilian injection drug users? Recent findings and how to interpret them
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
; 100(1): 91-96, Feb. 2005. ilus, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-398123
Responsible library:
BR1.1
RESUMO
We briefly review findings from Brazilian settings where the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic among injection drug users (IDUs) seems to be decreasing, highlighting recent findings from Rio de Janeiro and discussing methodological alternatives. Former analyses using serologic testing algorithm for recent HIV seroconversion have shown that HIV incidence has been low in IDUs recruited by two different surveys carried out in Rio, where low injection frequencies and infection rates have been found among new injectors. The proportion of AIDS cases among IDUs in Rio has been fairly modest, compared to São Paulo and especially to the southernmost states. Notwithstanding, the interpretation of findings from serial surveys constitutes a challenge, magnified in the assessment of HIV spread among IDUs due to the dynamic nature of the drug scenes and limitations of sampling strategies targeting hard-to-reach populations. Assessment of epidemic trends may profit from the triangulation of data, but cannot avert biases associated with sampling errors. Efforts should be made to triangulate data from different sources, besides exploring specific studies from different perspectives. In an attempt to further assess the observed trends, we carried out original analyses using data from Brazilian AIDS databank.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Health context:
SDG3 - Health and Well-Being
Health problem:
Target 3.3: End transmission of communicable diseases
/
Target 3.5: Prevention and treatment of consumption of psychoactive substances
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
HIV Seroprevalence
/
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
/
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Etiology study
/
Incidence study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2005
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/BR