Abstract
We describe prevalence and risk factors for HIV infection among 1,059 inmates in two prisons in Sorocaba, Brazil. Sociodemographics, prison history, and sexual and drug exposures were assessed by interviewer–administered questionnaire. HIV infection was detected in 115 (12.6%) inmates. Seroprevalence was 35% among those with a history of IDU (OR = 11.4, 95% CI 5.58–23.5). Sex with female visitors was reported by 66%, and homosexual practices with other inmates by 10%. Independent predictors of HIV infection were age <35 years (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.4), birthplace (natives of Sorocaba; OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.8), and number of previous incarcerations (≥1 compared to 0) (OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.07–2.7). Prevalence of HIV infection among these inmates is comparable to rates in metropolitan Sao Paulo and other prison populations internationally. The use of injecting drugs is the most important risk exposure in this population. These findings indicate an urgent need to institute prevention programs for this population both inside and outside prisons.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Brewer, D. (1992). AIDS in prison: A review of epidemiology and preventive policy. AIDS, 6, 623–628.
Cappoccia, A., Ranieri, R., Busnelli, M., Passaretti, B., Milella, M. A., and Vechi, L. (1991). Serological study of the prevalence of HIV, HBV and false positive VDRL infections in a penal institution. Minerva Medicine, 82, 125–130.
Coscina, L. A. (1992). Research on HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibody among Brazilian prisoners. MPH Thesis, Escola Paulista de Medicina.
Diaz, R. S., Kallas E. G., Castelo, A., Rawal, B., and Busch, M. P. (1999). Use of a new ''less-sensitive EIA'' testing strategy to identify recently infected persons in a Brazilian prison: Estimation of incidence and epidemiological tracing. AIDS, 13, 1417–1418.
Franco, A. S., Silva-Junior, J., and Bethano, L. C. (1993). Penal Code and its legal interpretation. Sao Paulo: Revista do Tribunais Ltda.
Gaiter, J., and Doll, S. L. (1996). Editorial: Improving HIV/AIDS prevention in prisons is a good public health policy. American Journal of Public Health, 86, 1201–1203.
Goldberg, D., Taylor, A., Mcgregor, J., Davis, B., Wrench, J., and Gruer, L. (1998). A lasting public health response to an outbreak of HIV infection in a Scottish prison? International Journal of STD and AIDS, 9, 25–30.
Kallas, E. G., Varella, D., Ceneviva, C. A., and Casteli, A. (1998). HIV seroprevalence and risk factors in a Brazilian prison. BJID, 2, 197–204.
Martin, V., Bayas, J. M., Laliga, A., Pumarola, T., Vidal, J., Jimenez de Anta, M. T., and Salleras, L. (1990). Seroepidemiology of HIV-1 infection in a Catalonian penitentiary. AIDS, 4, 1023–1026.
Ministerio da Saude do Brasil: National Coordinator for the Control of Sexually Diseases/AIDS (1997). Epidemiological Bulletin on AIDS. August.
Ministerio da Saude do Brasil: National Coordinator for the Control of Sexually Diseases/AIDS (1999). Epidemiological Bulletin on AIDS. February.
Muller, R., Stark, K., Holzmann, G. I., Wirth, D., and Bienzle, U. (1995). Imprisonment: A risk factor for HIV infection counteracting education and prevention programs for intravenous drug users. AIDS, 9, 183–190.
Pont, J., Strutz, H., Kahl, W., and Salzner, G. (1994). HIV epidemiology and risk behavior promoting HIV transmission in Austrian prisons. Euopean Journal of Epidemiology, 10, 285–289.
Rotily, M., Galinier-Pujol, A., Obadia, Y., Moatti, J. P., Toubiana, P., Vernay-Vaisse, C., and Gastaut, J. A. (1994). HIV testing, HIV infection and associated risk factors among inmates in southeastern French prisons. AIDS, 8, 1341–1344.
Rozman, M., Massad, E., Silveira, A. S., Azevedo-Neto, R. S., Takey, K., Yamamoto, Y. I., Strazza, L., Meneghin, P., Ferreira, M. M., Carvalho, H. B., Buchalla, C. M., Schechtman, M., and Burattini, M. N. (1998). HIV/AIDS in a Brazilian prison. International Journal of STD and AIDS, 9, 183–186.
Secretaria da Saude de Sorocaba. (1998). Epidemiological Information, 1998, 1–2.
StataCorp. (1999). Stata Statistical Software: Release 6.0. College Station, TX: Stata Corporation.
Taylor, A., Goldberg, D., Emslie, J., Wrench, J., Gruer, L., Cameron, S., Black, J., Davis, B., McGregor, J., Follett, E., Harvy, J., Basson, J., and McGavigan, J. (1995). Outbreak of infection in a Scottish prison. British Medical Journal, 310, 289–294.
Thomas, A. P., and Moerings, M. (Eds.). (1994). AIDS in Prison. Aldershot, UK; Dartmouth Press.
Varella, D. (1991). A detention facility-Focus of the AIDS virus. In The State of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Vlahov, D. (1992). HIV-1 infection in the correctional setting. NIDA research monograph, 118, 51–6 Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, 2, 283–290.
Vlahov, D., Brewer, T. F., Castro, K. G., Narkunas, J. P., Salive, M. E., Ullrich, J., and Munoz, A. (1991). Prevalence of antibody to HIV among entrants to US correctional facilities. Journal of the American Medical Association, 265, 1129–1132.
Weisfuse, I. B., Greenberg, B. L., Back, S. D., Makki, H. A., Thomas, P., Rooney, W. C., and Rautenberg, E. L. (1991). HIV-1 infection among New York City inmates. AIDS, 5, 1133–1138.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marins, J.R., Page-Shafer, K., Berti de Azevedo Barros, M. et al. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for HIV Infection Among Incarcerated Men in Sorocaba, Brazil. AIDS Behav 4, 121–128 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009501227346
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009501227346