14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. C10740)

Leite JL, Blascke M, Jashar E, Souza Z, Morais de Sa CA
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - ESS, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

ISSUES: current Brazilian data on the HIV-1/AIDS epidemic shows a trend towards an increasing number of cases among (i) the most economically underprivileged, (ii) inhabitants of small counties and rural areas and, most remarkably, (iii) among female patients. As of 2001 the male to female ratio of new AIDS cases in Brazil was 2:1. Such changing epidemiological profile poses enormous challenges to the Brazilian society as a whole.

DESCRIPTION: we retrospectively reviewed 1,918 medical records from HIV-1-infected patients followed at a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro between 1995 and the first semester of 2001. A total of 663 patients were of the female sex. The major mode of HIV-1 acquisition was through unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse (257). The following age range was found: 157 patients were 21 to 30 years-old; 233 were 31 to 40 and 131 were 41 to 50. A significant proportion was both on fertile age and economically active (521). The predominance of women on fertile age raises the potential of vertical transmission. A significant number (217) had not yet completed basic schooling. While 57 women entered follow up during the year 1995, the corresponding figure for the first semester of 2001 was 89.

ISSUES: the spread of the Brazilian HIV-1/AIDS epidemic towards the female sex is already an unfortunate reality.

RECOMMENDATIONS: It is our opinion that the role of the Social Service cannot be overemphasized as an essential component of the fight against the HIV-1/AIDS epidemic spread towards Brazilian female patients.

020707
C10740

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