AEGiS-14IAC: The unconsciousness of the female prisoners at a prison about the transmission of AIDS through their partners behavior -- Sao Paulo-SP- Brazil.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

The unconsciousness of the female prisoners at a prison about the transmission of AIDS through their partners behavior -- Sao Paulo-SP- Brazil.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. E11436)

Strazza L, Azevedo RS, Tessari OI, Massad E
Disciplina de Informatica Medica, School of Medicine, The University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

BACKGROUND:.The purpose of this study is to reveal the inmates' risks of HIV transmission before being arrested through their habits and behavior and also of their partners'.

METHODS: To study the prevalence of HIV, HCV and syphilis infection and related risk behavior we interviewed and bled, from August to October 2000, 290 confined female prisoners at the Sao Paulo State Penitentiary .Our questionnaire covered their's and their partners' sexual practices, use of illicit drugs, STDs and AIDS knowledge.

RESULTS: The penal system is consisted of: a)ordinary prison=119(we had 4 loss questionnaires)/b)minimun security prison=171(4 loss);a,b)Prisoners average age:30,8 (18-65) years old;a)educational

BACKGROUND:illiterate=11%(13),elementaryschool=26(31),junior high school=54,6%(65),senior high school=7,6%(9),college=0,8%(1);b)illiterate=4,7%(8);elementary school=26,3%(45);junior high school=47,3%(81);senior high school=20,4%(35);college=1,16%(2); a)when she was arrested she was in love with him=43%(51)/b)57,3%(98);a)he visits her at the prison=17%(20)/b)17%(29);a)she has had sex with another woman out of prison=3,4%(4)/b)6%(10);a)she has had sex with another woman in prison=18,5%(22)/b)23%(39);a)she has had STD=18,5%(22)/he has had STD=27,7%(33)/b)(she)26,3%(45)/(he)11,6%(20);a)Use of injecting drugs by female prisoners =8,4%(10)/b)9%(15);a)the female prisoners are not well informed about AIDS= 94%(87)/b) the female prisoners are well informed about AIDS=85,3%(146) Overal seroprevalence for HIV found was 13,7%(37/270); syphilis =22,9% (67/293);HCV=16%(47/293)

CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence for syphilis shows that there is a potencial for HIV infection by sexual transmission. The unconciousness in habits and behavior among female prisoners and also among their partners' shows their real and simbolic prison. The latter is related to the Patriarchal and Chauvinist Society and explains the current increase of HIV transmission in women.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Prisoners, Prisons, Prevalence, HIV Infections, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Risk-Taking, Syphilis, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Street Drugs, Interviews, Brazil, Female, Human, transmission

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E11436