Prevalence and risk factors for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HTLV-I/II infection in low-income postpartum and pregnant women in Greater Metropolitan Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil

• Published in: Cadernos de saúde pública 2009-03, Vol.25 (3), p.668-676
• Main Authors: Lima, Lucia Helena Mello de, Viana, Maria Carmen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Brazil - epidemiology; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B - transmission; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; Hepatitis C - transmission; Hepatitis, Viral, Human - epidemiology; Hepatitis, Viral, Human - transmission; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - transmission; HTLV-I Infections - epidemiology; HTLV-I Infections - transmission; HTLV-II Infections - epidemiology; HTLV-II Infections - transmission; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical - statistics & numerical data; Middle Aged; Poverty - statistics & numerical data; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - epidemiology; PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH; Retroviridae Infections - epidemiology; Retroviridae Infections - transmission; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - transmission; Syphilis - epidemiology; Syphilis - transmission; Urban Population; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0102-311X; 1678-4464; 1678-4464; 0102-311X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0102-311X2009000300021

Sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy pose a major risk to the fetus due to vertical transmission. The study's objective was to determine the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and HTLV-I/II infection among low-income postpartum and pregnant women treated in Greater Metropolitan Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil, and the risk factors associated with these infections. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to October 1999 assessing postpartum and pregnant women from the maternity ward of the Vitória Mercy Hospital and the Carapina Outpatient Referral Unit in the Municipality of Serra, respectively. Patients were systematically interviewed and had blood samples drawn for serological tests (HIV 1&2, VDRL, HbsAg, anti-HCV, and HTLV-I/II). A total of 534 patients (332 postpartum and 202 pregnant women) were assessed. Seroprevalence rates for the target infections in postpartum and pregnant women and the overall sample were as follows, respectively: HIV 0.9%, 0%, and 0.6%; syphilis 2.1%, 3.6%, and 2.7%; HBV 1.2%, 1%, and 1.1%; HCV 1.8%, 0.6%, and 1.4%; and HTLV-I/II 1.7%, 0.6%, and 1.3%. Factors associated with the various infections are presented and analyzed in light of other research findings from the literature.