AEGiS-14IAC: Two decades of the AIDS epidemic in Brazil and its future trends.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Two decades of the AIDS epidemic in Brazil and its future trends.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. C10716)

Barreira D, Dhalia C, Barbosa Jr. A, Santana R
Ministry of Health, Brasilia - DF, Brazil

BACKGROUND: According to recent analysis, AIDS epidemic in Brazil is characterized by two main facets: a) a considerable decline in incidence and mortality rates; and b) heterosexualisation, feminisation, impoverishment and interiorisation of the epidemic. This study describes the epidemiological picture of the AIDS epidemic in Brazil and its main trends.

METHODOLOGY: The AIDS cases notified between 1980 and 2000 were contrasted according to their main demographic, geographical and behavioural variables (e.g.; sex, age range, socio-economic status, geographical region and category of exposure).

RESULTS: AIDS incidence rate has reached its peak in 1998 (148 cases per million inhab). In 2000 it fell to 100 cases per million. The mortality rate has decreased 50% after the introduction of universal access to free HAART. However, the annual average rate between 1996 and 2000 indicates that the AIDS epidemic has: a) declined by 1.7% among men whereas it has increased by 11.2% per year among women; b) begun to affect younger homosexuals (under 25 y/o) and older IDU (over 24 y/o); c) made more vulnerable the economic deprived classes; d) increased its incidence in the North and Northeast, and in towns with less than 50,000 inhab.; e) tended to fall in the more developed regions and in heavily populated metropolitan areas; f) evidenced heterosexual transmission of HIV as dominant (63.2%), while homosexual and IDU categories of exposure have reduced.

CONCLUSION: The AIDS epidemic in Brazil is undergoing a series of key changes as far as its demographic, geographical and behavioral profile are concerned. The knowledge about its present progress and of its trends are indispensable for planning prevention and controlling the epidemic throughout the country.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Disease Outbreaks, Incidence, HIV Infections, Homosexuality, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, Brazil, Human, Female, Male, trends, MortalityKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,diseaseoutbreaks,incidence,hivinfections,homosexuality,antiretroviraltherapy,highlyactive,brazil,human,female,male,trends,mortality

020707
C10716

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.