AEGiS-07IAC: Seropositivity among children at a juvenile detention center in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

7th International AIDS Conference

Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

Seropositivity among children at a juvenile detention center in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:447 (abstract no. W.D.4237)
Greco D, de Paiva J, Pinto J, Adams I, Ottoni Z, Ude W, Ruff A, Halsey N; Federal Univ. of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To define the HIV-1 seroprevalence among street youths.

METHOD: From July 1989 through December 1990, youth arriving at a state detention center who agreed to participate were randomly assigned to a psychosocial interview or medical history, examination and HIV serology.

RESULTS: Three hundred twenty-seven (77%) of the 414 participating youths were male. Four (1.2%) of the male children were HIV-1 EIA+, three were Wb+, one indeterminate. In all four EIA positive cases, no risk factors were detected by in-depth interviews. However, preliminary data indicated 48% of all youths were sexually active and 4% acknowledged using IV drugs. All four EIA+ youths had left the center before results were available. Pt #1, a 13 yr old male, was subsequently hospitalized with AIDS, found to be an intravenous drug abuser and died. Pt #2, a 15 yr old male, was counselled and continues to deny risk behavior. He is asymptomatic and is having outpatient follow-up. Pts #3 (12 yr old male) and #4 (16 yr old male) have not yet been located.

CONCLUSIONS: In a city with an incidence of 9/100,000 cases of notified AIDS, the presence of HIV-1 in street youth emphasizes the urgent need for prevention in this high risk population.

Keywords: AEGIS, Risk-Taking, HIV Seroprevalence, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Homeless Youth, HIV-1, Adolescent, Risk Factors, Adolescent Behavior, Brazil, Child, Human, Male, ICA7
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