AEGiS-13IAC: Seroprevalence correlates of HIV and HCV infection among injection drug users (IDUs) attending an outreach syringe exchange program (SEPs) in five Brazilian cities*.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

Seroprevalence correlates of HIV and HCV infection among injection drug users (IDUs) attending an outreach syringe exchange program (SEPs) in five Brazilian cities*.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. WeOrA530)

Proietti F, Caiaffa W, Carneiro-Proietti AB, Marques L, Guimares M, Doneda D, Lopes A, The Ajude-Brasil P
F. Proietti, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, School of Medicine, Av. Alfredo Balena, 190, 30130-100 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, Tel.: +55-31-224-0911, Fax: +55-31-224-0911, E-mail: proietti@medicina.ufmg.br

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of information on prevalence and risk factors correlated with HIV and HCV couinfection among IDUs attending SEPs in Brazil.

METHODS: The AjUDE-Brasil Project was designed as a cross-sectional multicenter study aiming to access information on IDUs older than 18 years, attending five Brazilian SEPs from April to June,1998. Face-to-face interviews and fingerprint blood collection were carried out. Antibodies to HIV and HCV were tested by ELISA, following a serologic study aiming at standardization of the technique using paper filter. Data analysis included univariate and multinomial logistic regression using sociodemographic, drug use, sexual behavior and SEP attendance as independent variables.

RESULTS: Of 287 IDUs interviewed, 272 (95%) had serologic results; 43% were HIV-HCV co-infected, 9.2% were HIV+/ HCV-, 10.3% were HIV-/HCV+ and, 37.9% were HIV-/HCV-. HIV and HCV seropositivity were strongly associated (p>0.0001). Using the HIV-/HCV- as a reference group, the HIV single infected as well as the co-infected IDUs were more like to report sexual intercourse with the same gender ever, respectively OR = 7.5 (95%CI 2.4-23) and OR = 2.6 (95%CI 1.2-5.5).Moreover, the co-infected IDUs reported to have shared injecting tools ever (OR = 6.2;95%CI 2.6-14.7) and in the last month (OR = 3.9; 95%CI 1.1-14.7). For HIV-/HCV+ group no significant variables were detected. Although not statistically significant, all models were adjusted for duration of drug injection (median = 10 years).

CONCLUSIONS: Despite other reports, seroprevalence for HIV and HCV were very similar in this settings. The non association of drug use and sexual behavior correlates with HCV single infection may reflect a later introduction of this virus in the IDUs community than HIV, followed by a rapid seroconversion sooner after the drug use initiation, although no ascertainable by these cross-sectional study. * Sponsored by: National STD/Aids Program, Minister of Health, Brazil

Keywords: AEGIS, Needle-Exchange Programs, HIV, Seroepidemiologic Studies, HIV Infections, Hepacivirus, HIV Seropositivity, Sex Behavior, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Cross-Sectional Studies, Cities, Substance-Related Disorders, HIV Antibodies, Brazil, Greece, immunology
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