Amplified HIV Transmission Risk Among People Living With HIV in Southeast Brazil.

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the factors associated with amplified HIV transmission risk among people living with HIV from a city in southeast Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 397 people living with HIV recruited in infectious diseases clinics. Data on risk of HIV transmission, sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, professional counseling, serological HIV status, HIV-related clinical data, and beliefs about risk of HIV transmission were collected through interviews and medical records. Hierarchical ordered multinomial regression analyses were performed. Amplified HIV risk transmission was associated with lower age, alcohol consumption before having sex, illicit drug use before sexual intercourse, and not receiving professional counseling about HIV transmission. The belief that HIV can be transmitted to a partner not living with HIV was associated with lower likelihood of amplified risk for HIV transmission. Our findings suggest the importance of minimizing substance use before having sex, professional counseling, and beliefs about HIV transmission on amplified HIV risk transmission.

Factors associated with the diagnosis of COVID-19 among Brazilian health professionals COVID-19 and health professionals.

INTRODUCTION: Health professionals are on the front lines against the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and are at high risk for acquiring the infection. Failures in precautionary measures, inadequacy/scarcity of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and lack of social and family distancing may be associated with increased exposure and contamination by the new coronavirus. This study investigated the prevalence of COVID-19 among Brazilian health professionals and associated factors according to demographic and occupational characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted using an online survey with 12,086 health professionals from all regions of Brazil. Data were collected using an adaptation of the respondent-driven sampling method for the virtual environment. The outcome variable was the diagnosis of COVID-19. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyzes were used to identify an association between the diagnosis of COVID-19 and demographic and occupational variables. Variables were considered statistically significant based on p<0.05. RESULTS: Most participants were female, from the northeast region, and nursing professionals. A prevalence of 31.95% (95%CI: 31.0%, 32.9%) of COVID-19 was estimated. Following multiple regression analysis, the variables associated with the diagnosis of COVID-19 among health professionals were: male gender, married individuals, professionals who provide care to patients with COVID-19, who work in a field hospital, and those who work in institutions that did not offer enough quality PPE. CONCLUSIONS: The study found a high prevalence of COVID-19 infection, with male professionals being those with greater chances. Inadequate supply or poor quality of PPE offered by health institutions compromises the health of professionals with an increase in positive diagnosis for COVID-19.

Knowledge, Behaviors, and Perceptions of Risk of COVID-19 Among Brazilian Nursing Students: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic presented important challenges for the education of nursing students to provide health care with competence, quality, and safety. OBJECTIVES: The purpose was to analyze knowledge, behavior, and perception of risk regarding COVID-19 and associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2637 Brazilian undergraduate nursing students using a self-reported online survey. RESULTS: Students' knowledge about COVID-19 in general was considered inadequate. Students had limited knowledge about preventive measures in the hospital environment and recommendations for aerosol precautions. More than 90% of graduates adopted recommended prevention measures, and 86.1% perceived themselves to be at a greater risk of acquired SARS-CoV-2 during clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: The results show the need to rethink undergraduate nursing education regarding the prevention and control of infectious diseases, including the most appropriate strategies for COVID-19 prevention measures.