Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Truck drivers in Brazil: prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, risk behavior and potential for spread of infection.
AIDS. 1997 Sep;11 Suppl 1:S15-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE /MED98025845 Lacerda R; Gravato N; McFarland W; Rutherford G; Iskrant K; Stall R; Hearst N; ASPPE-Associacao Santista de Pesquisa Prevencao e Educacao em DST/AIDS; and Secretaria de Higiene e Saude de Santos, Brazil.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of HIV and syphilis and related risk behavior in a sample of truck drivers in Santos, Brazil. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed of 300 male truck drivers recruited in the port of Santos, Brazil, including a face-to-face interview and blood sampling for HIV and syphilis serology. RESULTS: Of 300 subjects, 4 (1.3%) were positive for HIV, 25 (8.3%) for syphilis by the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test and 38 (13%) were positive for syphilis by the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed) test (FTA-Abs). Seventy-one per cent had been employed as truck drivers for more than 10 years and 93% lived outside of Santos. Most participants were married (72%); 40% reported having more than one sex partner; 21% reported sex with commercial sex workers; 14% reported sex with girls that they met on the road; 16% had sex with other men's wives; and 3.3% reported sex with men during the past year. The use of rebite, an oral stimulant, was reported by 43% and was associated with being FTA-Abs-positive (P = 0.04). Being HIV-positive was associated with having sex with friends (P = 0.04), partners usually considered 'safe' by truck drivers. Being syphilis-positive VDRL) was significantly associated with sex with partners also considered as 'safe', namely primary sex partners, steady partners and other men's wives. DISCUSSION: This is the first study to determine HIV and syphilis seroprevalence among truck drivers in South America. Findings confirm that this group has a high potential risk for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases, and thus currently presents an opportunity for prevention.
Keywords: *HIV Infections/EPIDEMIOLOGY *Sexually Transmitted Diseases/EPIDEMIOLOGY 980130
M9811052
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
