Sexual Violence and Low Rates of HIV Post-exposure Prophylaxis Access Among Female Sex Workers in Brazil.

Female sex workers (FSW) are disproportionately affected by sexual violence (SV) and HIV. Social and structural barriers limit their access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Respondent-driven sampling survey in 12 Brazilian cities among 4188 FSW aimed to estimate the rates of SV and factors associated with access to PEP use among FSW who experienced SV. The prevalence of SV was 26.3% (1199). Of the 1199, 7.5% sought out healthcare and used PEP, 19% sought out healthcare, but did not use PEP, and 73.5% did not seek out healthcare after SV. Factors associated with PEP use included PEP awareness, participation in HIV/STI prevention workshops, and disclosure of FSW status in healthcare services. Although Brazil has a PEP program free of charge, it is not readily accessible, even for FSW who seek out healthcare. The development of effective strategies to link FSW to HIV preventive services is urgently needed.

RESUMEN: Mujeres trabajadoras sexuales (MTS) se ven afectadas de manera desproporcionada por la violencia sexual (VS) y el VIH. Las barreras sociales y estructurales limitan su acceso a la profilaxis posexposición (PEP). Encuesta de muestreo dirigida por encuestados en 12 ciudades brasileñas con 4188 MTS para estimar la prevalencia de VS y los factores asociados al uso de PEP entre MTS que experimentaron VS. La prevalencia de VS fue del 26.3% (1199). De essas, el 7.5% buscó atención médica y usó PEP, el 19% buscó atención médica pero no usó PEP y el 73.5% no buscó atención después del SV. Factores asociados con el uso de PEP: conciencia de PEP; participación en talleres educativos y divulgación del trabajo en los servicios de salud. Aunque Brasil tiene un programa de PEP gratuito, no es de fácil acceso. Es urgente el desarrollo de estrategias efectivas para vincular las MTS con servicios de prevención.

Acceptability of HIV self-testing is low among men who have sex with men who have not tested for HIV: a study with respondent-driven sampling in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Brazil has many people living with HIV (PLWH) who are unaware of their serostatus. The public health system has recently added HIV self-testing (HIVST) for key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM). This study estimates HIVST acceptability among Brazilian MSM and explores factors associated with acceptability among MSM who have never tested for HIV or who had a previous negative result. METHODS: Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used to recruit 4176 MSM in 12 Brazilian cities in 2016 to this biological and behavioral surveillance study. We excluded from this analysis all MSM who were aware of their positive HIV serostatus. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Overall proportions were weighted with Gile's estimator in RDS Analyst software and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The analyses of HIVST acceptability were stratified by prior HIV testing (never or one or more times). RESULTS: For this analysis, 3605 MSM were included. The acceptability of HIVST was 49.1%, lower among those who had never tested for HIV (42.7%) compared to those who had a previous HIV negative test (50.1%). In the subgroup of MSM who had never tested for HIV, those who reported discrimination or who had a medical appointment in the last 12 months reported higher HIVST acceptability. Among MSM who had a previous negative HIV test, only those reporting condomless receptive anal sex reported higher HIVST acceptability. In addition, we observed that high levels of knowledge of HIV/AIDS, taking part in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender nongovernmental organizations (LGBT-NGO), or complete secondary or incomplete higher undergraduate education reported higher acceptability. CONCLUSIONS: The acceptability of HIVST was low among MSM, especially among those who never tested for HIV. Given access to HIVST in Brazil, we point to the need for programs that enhance promotion of testing addressed to MSM.

Symptomatic profile of infected individuals with HIV/AIDS in a physiotherapy department / Perfil Sintomatológico de indivíduos com HIV/AIDS em um setor de fisioterapia

Abstract Introduction Changes in the profile of infected individuals with HIV and the chronicity of this condition become necessary a better understanding about the clinical changes caused by the disease. Objective This study characterizes the physical symptoms of infected individuals with HIV in a physiotherapy department of a specialized HIV treatment center. Methods A descriptive study with quantitative analysis was performed. All registered users in the physiotherapy department (138 individuals) from 2009 to 2013 were included. Data analysis considered absolute and relative frequencies of the variables of interest. Results Most patients were female (55%) and the mean age was 35.0 years (± 16.8). Most users were usingantiretroviral therapy and had 4 to 10 years (51.8%) of the HIV diagnosis. Many patients have comorbidities and the most prevalent was cerebral toxoplasmosis. The most common physical complaints were hemiparesis, pain, alteration in muscle tone and lipodystrophy. Conclusion According the symptomatic profile found, expanding the role of physiotherapists for infected individuals with HIV is necessary, since the physiotherapy has a wide range of preventive and therapeutic interventions that can increase functionality, independence level and social participation.

Resumo Introdução Com a modificação do perfil dos indivíduos vivendo com HIV/AIDS, relacionada à cronicidade destas condições, torna-se necessário um melhor entendimento das alterações clínicas provocadas pela doença. Objetivo Caracterizar os sintomas físicos de indivíduos com HIV/AIDS do ambulatório de fisioterapia de um centro de referência para o tratamento de HIV/AIDS. Métodos Realizou-se um estudo do tipo descritivo com abordagem quantitativa. Foram incluídos todos os usuários cadastrados no setor de fisioterapia, no período de 2009 a 2013, totalizando 138 indivíduos. A análise dos dados considerou frequências relativas e absolutas das variáveis de interesse. Resultados Os pacientes foram caracterizados pela maioria do sexo feminino (55%) e média de idade de 35,0 anos (± 16,8). A maioria utilizava a terapia antirretroviral, com tempo de diagnóstico entre 4 e 10 anos. Foi comum a presença comorbidades, sendo a mais prevalente a neurotoxoplasmose. As queixas físicas mais frequentes foram hemiparesia, dor, alteração do tônus e lipodistrofia. Conclusão Diante do perfil sintomatológico apresentado, é necessária a ampliação da atuação dos fisioterapeutas com os indivíduos com HIV/AIDS, visto que, a fisioterapia possui uma série de medidas preventivas e terapêuticas capazes de aumentar a funcionalidade, o grau de independência e a participação social.

Associação entre discinesia escapular e dor no ombro de praticantes de natação / Association between scapular dyskinesia and shoulder pain in swimmers

A escápula possui funções essenciais no ombro do atleta de arremesso. Qualquer desequilíbrio presente entre as estruturas responsáveis pela sua estabilidade originará uma condição denominada discinesia escapular, a qual é comumente acompanhada de dor no ombro. Este estudo tem o objetivo de verificar se há associação entre a discinesia escapular e a dor no ombro de praticantes de natação. Foi realizado um estudo analítico observacional de corte transversal, incluindo 36 praticantes de natação do sexo masculino, com idade de 18 a 36 anos. Como métodos diagnósticos sugestivos de discinesia escapular foram utilizados o Slide Lateral Scapular Test e a filmagem proposta por Kibler. A existência de proporções significativas entre as variáveis nominais foi comprovada pelo teste do qui-quadrado ou pelo teste exato de Fisher. Para identificar associações entre as variáveis contínuas e os grupos de estudo foi utilizado o teste t de Student. Um p < 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significante. O grau de concordância interexaminador (Kappa; p < 0,0001) foi considerado substancial, correspondendo a 86,1 por cento (0,7656) no ombro direito e 83,3 por cento (0,6412) no esquerdo. Constatou-se que a grande maioria (80 por cento) dos indivíduos que apresentaram positividade no Slide Lateral Scapular Test relatou dor no ombro. Dentre os nadadores que apresentaram discinesia escapular durante a filmagem, em 70,8 por cento também foi constatada a presença dessa condição no teste estático. Este é um estudo original no que diz respeito à abordagem da discinesia escapular em nadadores e em relacioná-la com a presença de dor no ombro. Porém, a hipótese inicial de que haveria uma associação significante não foi correspondida.

The scapula plays an essential role in the throwing motion performed by athletes. Scapular dyskinesia is a condition characterized by imbalance in the structures responsible for the joint stability, which is often accompanied by shoulder pain. The main objective of this study is to assess the relationship between scapular dyskinesia and shoulder pain in swimmers. A total of 36 male swimmers aged between 18 and 36 years were diagnosed for scapular dyskinesia utilizing two different methods: the Lateral Slide Scapular Test and the video recording method suggested by Kibler. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Comparisons between groups were performed using the t-test. The degree of p< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Significance was set at á=0.05. There was a high inter-rate reliability concerning the video analysis (Kappa; p<0.0001), corresponding to 86.1 percent (0.7656) on the right shoulder and 83.3 percent (0.6412) on the left shoulder. The majority of the individuals that had positive diagnosis assessed by the Lateral Slide Scapular Test (80 percent) reported pain on the shoulder. Furthermore, 70.8 percent of the subjects who had positive diagnosis by the video recording also had positive diagnosis in the static test. Although a significant association between scapular dyskinesia and shoulder pain was not found, this is an important study to approach these conditions in swimmers.