Assessing risk behaviors and prevalence of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections among female crack cocaine users in salvador - Bahia, Brazil
Braz. j. infect. dis
; 11(6): 561-566, Dec. 2007. tab
Article
em En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-476626
Biblioteca responsável:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
Crack cocaine use is associated with risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. We investigated sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics and infection rates in female crack cocaine users from impoverished communities of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. A sample of 125 female crack cocaine users was recruited. Overall, the interviewees had low educational level and high rate of unemployment (close to 90 percent). One-third (37 percent) reported having traded sex for money or drugs, and 58 percent reported that they had not used condoms during intercourse in the last 30 days. The prevalence of infections was low HIV-1.6 percent; HCV-2.4 percent; HBV- 0.8 percent; HTLV I/II-4.0 percent; and syphilis-4.0 percent. The combination of dire poverty and high prevalence of risk behaviors turn such populations a preferential target of initiatives aiming to reduce drug-related harm and promote social development. Low infection rates should not be viewed with complacency, but as a window of opportunity to implement prevention initiatives and reduce social marginalization.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
LILACS
Assunto principal:
Comportamento Sexual
/
Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis
/
Cocaína Crack
/
Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Cocaína
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Braz. j. infect. dis
Assunto da revista:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Ano de publicação:
2007
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Brasil
/
Estados Unidos