AEGiS-15IAC: Vulnerability study to HIV infection in female Brazilian prisoners assessed by serological and TAT techniques.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Vulnerability study to HIV infection in female Brazilian prisoners assessed by serological and TAT techniques.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. C10117)

Strazza L, Carvalho HB, Azevedo RS, Massad E
University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is identifying HIV vulnerability HIV transmission among a Female Penitentiary's inmates in SP, Brazil, comparing two techniques: serological and TAT (Thematic Apperception Test). TAT created by Murray in 1935 to investigate the human personality. It is a projective technique that aim revels the unconscious life story.

METHODS: We interviewed and accessed a blood sample of 290 female prisoners to determine HIV, HCV and syphilis infection. First of all, they answered a questionnaire by face-to-face. Afterwards five psychologists previously trained had applied the TAT on a sub sample of 46 subjects. This test was performed showing several drowning cards to the inmates. They were asked by the psychologists to create a story with begin, middle and end from each card. They were informed that everything they said would be written down. These stories were interpreted in order to review the personalities and internal emotions, most of the time unknowing by themselves. The stories told by them were consolidating in a unique story representing the whole group. After all it was compared: serological and TAT.

RESULTS: Prevalence found were as follows: 13.85% for HIV; 22.76% for syphilis ; 16.2% for HCV ; HIV positive partner (OR=7.4, P<0.0001), casual partner (OR=8.9, P=0.009), DST (OR=2.07, P=0.05). Women with only one partner OR=2.57, P=0.009. TAT interpreted stories revealed sexual submission women within a Patriarchal and Chauvinist Society. Discussion: We found a high risk associated with sexual unsafe behaviour. High syphilis infection is as an important clue to the sexual transmission. This confidence is demonstrated trough submission stories interpreted in TAT stimulus cards that show their real and symbolic prison. The latter is related to the Patriarchal and Chauvinist Society.

CONCLUSION: Our finds pointed to sexual behaviour as highly important component in HIV infection among this population.

Keywords: AEGIS, Prisoners, HIV Infections, Genes, tat, Prevalence, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Sexual Behavior, Syphilis, Hepacivirus, Brazil, Humans, Female, methods, genetics

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C10117