Epidemiologia da sífilis em usuários de crack institucionalizados em Goiânia, Goiás

• Autor(a) principal: Guimarães, Rafael Alves
• Data de Publicação: 2016
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UFG
• Texto Completo: http://repositorio.bc.ufg.br/tede/handle/tede/6086
• topic: Sífilis; Treponema pallidum; Crack; Epidemiologia; Comportamentos de risco; Syphilis; Treponema pallidum; Crack; Epidemiology; Risk behaviors; CIENCIAS DA SAUDE::ENFERMAGEM

Crack users are at high risk for syphilis, due to multiple risk behaviors, such as inconsistent condom use, exchanging sex for money and/or drugs and multiple sexual partners. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of syphilis in institutionalized crack users in Goiânia, Goiás. Between 2012 and 2013, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 600 users of a reference unit for chemical dependency treatment of Goiás. All participants were interviewed regarding socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors for syphilis. Blood samples were then collected for the detection of anti-Treponema pallidum antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Positive samples were retested by the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL). Active syphilis was considered when there was a positive ELISA result and VDRL titers ≥ 1:8. Of the 600 samples tested by ELISA, 13.8% (95% CI: 11.3 to 16.8%) were positive and 4.5% (95% CI: 3.1 to 6.5%) had titles VDRL ≥ 1:8. The prevalence of exposure to Treponema pallidum and active syphilis was three times greater in women than in men (p < .001). In multiple regression analysis, female sex (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR]: 3.73; p < .001), exchange sex for money and/or drugs (APR: 3.22; p = .040) and a history of genital ulcers (APR: 4.12; p = .010) were associated with active syphilis. Furthermore, it was observed that the prevalence of infection decreased by 12% for each year of formal study (APR: 0.88; p = .030). The results of this research show high prevalence of syphilis in the investigated crack users and indicate the need to implement strategies for prevention and control of this infection in these individuals, including health education activities, diagnosis of infection in clinical treatment for chemical dependency and treatment of positive cases.