Barriers and facilitators for HIV rapid testing among transgender women and gay and other men who have sex with men in Brazil: A scoping review.

Transgender women (TGW) and men who have sex with other men (MSM) often encounter disparities in accessing HIV testing, leading to delayed diagnoses and worse prognoses. We analysed barriers and facilitators for accessing HIV rapid testing by TGW and MSM in Brazil, 2004-2023. Citations were included whether the study population consisted of individuals aged ≥18y old, and studies addressed HIV testing and have been conducted in Brazil. The study protocol was based on Joanna Briggs' recommendations for scoping reviews. We included 11 studies on TGW and 17 on MSM. The belief that one is not at risk of contracting HIV infection, fear expressed in different ways (e.g. lack of confidentiality) and younger age were the main barriers. Feeling at risk for HIV infection, curiosity, and favourable characteristics of the setting where the testing takes place were cited as the main facilitators. Barriers and facilitators specifically for HIV self-testing included, respectively, concerns about conducting the test alone vs. autonomy/flexibility. Brazil is unlikely to achieve the UN' 95-95-95 goal without minimising testing disparities. Combating prejudice against TGW and MSM in testing settings, along with educational campaigns and transparent protocols to ensure confidentiality, can help increase HIV testing among these populations.

Examining the effects of parental migration on youth mental health and substance use: a qualitative study in rural Yucatán, México.

Background: Parental migration is common in Mexico and Latin America, where individuals pursue work to improve their family's economic opportunities and children remain home in their community under the care of the remaining parent or extended family. A research gap remains about the impact of parental migration on mental health and substance use in children who remain at home. The current study explored risk and resilience factors relating to mental health and substance use among Mexican youth remaining at home when one or more parents migrate. Methods: This qualitative study applied attachment theory and thematic analysis to analyze 26 in-depth interviews with youth (17-21 years old), parents, and a focus group with high-school teachers in a town with history of migration both domestically and internationally (Yucatan, México). Results: Respondents across groups perceived that parental migration was related to 1) less parental/caregiver oversight and support due to family demands on the remaining parent and 2) the deterioration of youth mental health. Lack of youth oversight and the poor mental health of youth were perceived as drivers of youth seeking out and consuming alcohol and substances. In terms of parental remittances, youth reported observing among their peers increased access to material goods such as clothing and technology (e.g., smartphones) and increased access to alcohol. Resilience factors included parental awareness of the role of good communication with youth and teachers and youth access to and utilization of self-care resources such as mutual aid meetings for substance use recovery. Conclusion: Poor mental health and substance use among youth and parents were perceived to be related to parental absence, stressors on the remaining parent or family, and undermined healthy parent-child attachment. Youth themselves are a source of insight for recommendations on interventions to reduce youth isolation and substance use risk. We recommend the intentional engagement of youth in developing intervention research and tailoring evidence-based interventions to mitigate parental absence's impact and promote parent-child attachment for youth and families remaining at home.

Mapping projects for expanding rapid HIV testing in key populations, Brazil, 2004-2021.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains a persistent and real issue, especially in key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), travestis and transgender persons. Projects for expanding rapid HIV testing are strategic initiatives aimed at the earliest possible identification of individuals' serological status and thus early treatment, screening of sex partners, and upscaling of preventive actions to interrupt the transmission chain. This study thus maps, describes, and systematizes the projects for expanding rapid HIV testing implemented from 2004 to 2021 in Brazil, highlighting the on-going contribution of civil society organizations and discussing the interoperability and cooperation resulting from public governance processes. We selected 67 documents for analysis, including 30 scientific publications retrieved from electronic databases and 37 documents produced by government institutions and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Find Out (Fique Sabendo), I Want to Get Tested (Quero Fazer), The Time is Now (A Hora É Agora), Live Better Knowing (Viva Melhor Sabendo), and Live Better Knowing Young (Viva Melhor Sabendo Jovem) were the projects mapped. Results show that the projects have used strategies adapted to the key population, such as mobile testing units, peer education, and innovative community engagement approaches. Such actions were enabled by effective cooperation and interoperability between participating stakeholders, especially NGOs.

Mapping projects for expanding rapid HIV testing in key populations, Brazil, 2004-2021 / Projetos de mapeamento para a expansão da testagem rápida para HIV em populações-chave, Brasil, 2004-2021 / Proyectos para mapear la expansión de las pruebas rápidas del VIH en poblaciones clave, Brasil, 2004-2021

Abstract: The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains a persistent and real issue, especially in key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), travestis and transgender persons. Projects for expanding rapid HIV testing are strategic initiatives aimed at the earliest possible identification of individuals' serological status and thus early treatment, screening of sex partners, and upscaling of preventive actions to interrupt the transmission chain. This study thus maps, describes, and systematizes the projects for expanding rapid HIV testing implemented from 2004 to 2021 in Brazil, highlighting the on-going contribution of civil society organizations and discussing the interoperability and cooperation resulting from public governance processes. We selected 67 documents for analysis, including 30 scientific publications retrieved from electronic databases and 37 documents produced by government institutions and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Find Out (Fique Sabendo), I Want to Get Tested (Quero Fazer), The Time is Now (A Hora É Agora), Live Better Knowing (Viva Melhor Sabendo), and Live Better Knowing Young (Viva Melhor Sabendo Jovem) were the projects mapped. Results show that the projects have used strategies adapted to the key population, such as mobile testing units, peer education, and innovative community engagement approaches. Such actions were enabled by effective cooperation and interoperability between participating stakeholders, especially NGOs.

Resumo: A epidemia de HIV/aids está longe de terminar. Ainda é muito real, especialmente em populações-chave, como homens que fazem sexo com homens (HSH), travestis e pessoas transgênero. Projetos de ampliação da testagem rápida anti-HIV são iniciativas estratégicas que visam à identificação mais precoce possível do status sorológico dos indivíduos e, consequentemente, ao tratamento precoce, à triagem de parceiros sexuais e à ampliação das ações preventivas para interrupção da cadeia de transmissão. Assim, este estudo se propõe a mapear, descrever e sistematizar os projetos de expansão da testagem rápida para HIV realizados de 2004 a 2021 no Brasil, destacando a contribuição em curso das organizações da sociedade civil e discutindo a interoperabilidade e a cooperação resultantes dos processos de governança pública. Foram selecionados 67 documentos para análise, incluindo 30 publicações científicas recuperadas de bases de dados eletrônicas e 37 documentos produzidos por instituições governamentais e organizações não governamentais (ONGs). Os projetos mapeados foram: Fique Sabendo, Quero Fazer, A Hora É Agora, Viva Melhor Sabendo e Viva Melhor Sabendo Jovem. Os resultados mostram que os projetos utilizaram estratégias adaptadas à população-chave, como unidades móveis de testagem, educação entre pares e abordagens inovadoras de engajamento comunitário. Tais ações foram possíveis graças à cooperação e interoperabilidade efetivas entre as partes interessadas participantes, especialmente as ONGs.

Resumen: La epidemia de VIH/SIDS está lejos de terminar. Sigue siendo muy real, sobre todo en poblaciones clave, como hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH), travestís y personas transgénero. Proyectos para ampliar las pruebas rápidas anti-VIH son iniciativas estratégicas que tienen el objetivo de identificar el estado serológico de las personas lo antes posible y, consiguientemente, hacer el tratamiento precoz, el triaje de las parejas sexuales y ampliar las acciones preventivas para interrumpir la cadena de transmisión. Así, este estudio tiene el objetivo de mapear, describir y sistematizar los proyectos de expansión de las pruebas rápidas del VIH realizados entre 2004 y 2021 en Brasil, resaltando la contribución en curso de los organismos de la sociedad civil y discutiendo la interoperabilidad y la cooperación que resultan de los procesos de gobernanza pública. Se seleccionaron 67 documentos para el análisis, entre ellos 30 publicaciones científicas recuperadas de bases de datos electrónicas y 37 documentos producidos por instituciones gubernamentales y organizaciones no gubernamentales (ONGs). Los proyectos mapeados fueron: Para que Sepas (Fique Sabendo), Quiero Hacer (Quero Fazer), La Hora Es Ahora (A Hora É Agora), Viva Mejor Sabiendo (Viva Melhor Sabendo) y Viva Mejor Sabiendo Joven (Viva Melhor Sabendo Jovem). Los resultados demuestran que los proyectos utilizaron estrategias adaptadas a la población clave, como las unidades móviles de prueba, educación entre pares y enfoques innovadores de participación comunitaria. Estas acciones fueron posibles gracias a la cooperación e interoperabilidad efectivas entre las partes interesadas participantes, sobre todo las ONGs.

The risks of HCV infection among Brazilian crack cocaine users: incorporating diagnostic test uncertainty.

Despite the initiative by WHO and other international organizations to eliminate HCV in the medium term, hepatitis C infection is still a major public health problem. Even non-injecting drugs users who engage in harmful or addictive drug use are at greater risk of acquiring the infection, when compared to the general population. This study evaluate risk factors for HCV infection in users of crack/cocaine in Brazil, using multilevel models that incorporate variations in the sensitivity and specificity of the respective diagnostic tests. The sample included all the participants of a national survey on street crack cocaine users with serologically reactive result in the rapid test for the HCV as well as 4 non-reactive controls, matched by sex, age category, and major geographic region of residence. Multilevel logistic regression models were used, with and without incorporation of the diagnostic test's sensitivity and specificity values. The odds of HCV infection were 85% higher among polydrug users, 7.81 times higher among injecting drug users, and 3.69 times higher in those reporting to have genital ulcers. Statistical modeling strategies that incorporate the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests in challenging settings are useful for studying the association between risk factors and infection status.

HIV, HCV, HBV, and syphilis among transgender women from Brazil: Assessing different methods to adjust infection rates of a hard-to-reach, sparse population.

Different sampling strategies, analytic alternatives, and estimators have been proposed to better assess the characteristics of different hard-to-reach populations and their respective infection rates (as well as their sociodemographic characteristics, associated harms, and needs) in the context of studies based on respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Despite several methodological advances and hundreds of empirical studies implemented worldwide, some inchoate findings and methodological challenges remain. The in-depth assessment of the local structure of networks and the performance of the available estimators are particularly relevant when the target populations are sparse and highly stigmatized. In such populations, bottlenecks as well as other sources of biases (for instance, due to homophily and/or too sparse or fragmented groups of individuals) may be frequent, affecting the estimates.In the present study, data were derived from a cross-sectional, multicity RDS study, carried out in 12 Brazilian cities with transgender women (TGW). Overall, infection rates for HIV and syphilis were very high, with some variation between different cities. Notwithstanding, findings are of great concern, considering the fact that female TGW are not only very hard-to-reach but also face deeply-entrenched prejudice and have been out of the reach of most therapeutic and preventive programs and projects.We cross-compared findings adjusted using 2 estimators (the classic estimator usually known as estimator II, originally proposed by Volz and Heckathorn) and a brand new strategy to adjust data generated by RDS, partially based on Bayesian statistics, called for the sake of this paper, the RDS-B estimator. Adjusted prevalence was cross-compared with estimates generated by non-weighted analyses, using what has been called by us a naïve estimator or rough estimates.

Criminal justice involvement of crack cocaine users in the city of Rio de Janeiro and Greater Metropolitan Area: Implications for public health and the public security agenda.

BACKGROUND: The international literature has expressed different and sometimes contrasting perspectives when addressing criminal involvement by crack cocaine users, highlighting psychopharmacological aspects, the cycles of craving and pressing economic need, and the interplay with overall deprivation and structural violence. The current study aims to identify variables associated with the arrest and imprisonment of regular crack cocaine users. METHODS: Interviewees were recruited from open drug scenes in the city of Rio de Janeiro and Greater Metropolitan Area from September 2011 to June 2013. Multilevel logistic regression models were fitted to the data. RESULTS: Most of the recruited crack cocaine users were male (78.2% [95%CI: 76.3-79.4]), 18-30 years old (64.7% [95%CI: 62.5-66.2]), non-white (92.9% [95%CI: 91.2-93.4]), single (68.9% [95%CI: 66.8-70.3]), and with 0-7 years of schooling (70.6% [95%CI: 68.5-71.9]). Factors independently associated with arrest were history of inpatient addiction treatment (adjOR 4.31 [95%CI: 1.70-11.32]); male gender (adjOR 2.05 [95%CI: 1.40-3.04); polydrug use (adjOR 1.82 [95%CI: 1.32-2.51]); and 0 to 7 years of schooling (adjOR 1.64 [95%CI: 1.17-2.32]). As for the outcome variable lifetime history of incarceration, the independently associated factors were: male gender (adjOR 2.47 [95%CI: 1.74-3.55]) and longer use of crack cocaine and related substances (e.g., free base and local varieties/denominations of coca products) (adjOR 1.05 [95%CI: 1.01-1.10]). CONCLUSION: The study's findings support the use of comprehensive multisector interventions, integrating health promotion and mental health rehabilitation, access to quality education, and management of combined/concomitant use of different substances to reduce and/or prevent criminal involvement by individuals that use crack cocaine and other substances, as well as to prevent/manage relapse.

[On the sidelines of society: crack use, deviation, criminalization and social exclusion - a narrative review]. / À margem: uso de crack, desvio, criminalização e exclusão social ­ uma revisão narrativa.

The article comprises a narrative review of the scientific literature, aiming to identify and discuss the contexts of vulnerability and social exclusion faced by users of crack cocaine and other substances who live on the sidelines of society in the Brazilian and international context. The paper summarizes insights from different theoretical frameworks, focusing on an integrated perspective of substance use and abuse, with an emphasis on the use of crack and its inter-relationships with social vulnerability, marginalization, social exclusion and deviation. In a first step, broad aspects of qualitative research on drugs are outlined. The subsequent section highlights issues associated with exclusion and social vulnerability of crack users, followed by an assessment of the main associations mentioned in the literature on drug use and criminal involvement. Finally, the concept of "sidelines of society" is discussed, as exemplified by situations and events experienced by users of crack and other substances, as mentioned in the literature.

À margem: uso de crack, desvio, criminalização e exclusão social - uma revisão narrativa / On the sidelines of society: crack use, deviation, criminalization and social exclusion - a narrative review

Resumo O artigo faz uma revisão narrativa da literatura científica visando identificar e discutir os contextos de vulnerabilidade e exclusão social que situam os usuários de crack e outras drogas à margem da norma social no contexto brasileiro e internacional. Lança-se mão de uma variedade de marcos teóricos de modo a integrar as áreas temática do uso de drogas, com ênfase no de crack e sua inter-relação com vulnerabilidade social, marginalidade, exclusão social e desvio. Inicialmente são discutidos aspectos gerais da pesquisa qualitativa em drogas. Em seguida são pontuadas questões acerca da exclusão e vulnerabilidade social dos usuários de crack, seguido das principais associações descritas na literatura sobre uso de drogas e envolvimento criminal. Por fim, o conceito de “margens do Estado” é discutido através do exemplo de situações vivenciadas pelos usuários de crack e outras drogas, como relatado pela literatura.

Abstract The article comprises a narrative review of the scientific literature, aiming to identify and discuss the contexts of vulnerability and social exclusion faced by users of crack cocaine and other substances who live on the sidelines of society in the Brazilian and international context. The paper summarizes insights from different theoretical frameworks, focusing on an integrated perspective of substance use and abuse, with an emphasis on the use of crack and its inter-relationships with social vulnerability, marginalization, social exclusion and deviation. In a first step, broad aspects of qualitative research on drugs are outlined. The subsequent section highlights issues associated with exclusion and social vulnerability of crack users, followed by an assessment of the main associations mentioned in the literature on drug use and criminal involvement. Finally, the concept of “sidelines of society” is discussed, as exemplified by situations and events experienced by users of crack and other substances, as mentioned in the literature.

A inter-relação entre o uso do crack emcenas abertas e envolvimento com a justiça criminal no município do Rio de Janeiro

No Brasil, o consumo de crack em cenas abertas tem sido associado, pelo senso comum e grande mídia à problemas relacionados à violência, desordem urbana e criminalidade nas grandes cidades. Todavia os estudos sobre este tema no Brasil são pouquíssimos. Sendo assim, no primeiro artigo da tese, identificamos variáveis preditoras para detenção e prisão dos usuários de crack e similares no município do Rio de Janeiroe Região Metropolitana, no período de setembro de 2011 a junho de 2013, através de modelos de regressão logística multinível. As variáveis que se mostraram preditoras de detenção e/ou prisão foram: ter utilizado leito de internação clínica, ser do sexo masculino, ser poliusuário, ter de 0 a 7 anos de estudo, raça/cor “preto” e acréscimo de 1ano no tempo de uso de crack e similares. No segundo artigo, buscamos verificar a possível associação entre um conjunto de cenas abertas de uso de crack com a ocorrência de determinados crimes em seu entorno, no município do Rio de Janeiro, no período de janeiro de 2011 a outubro de 2012, através de um modelo de regressão linear múltipla.As análises evidenciam para uma possível associação entre as cenas abertas de uso de crack e crimes contra propriedade, assim como diferença significativa na média de crimes contra propriedade entre as cenas que estavam localizadas em “favelas” em relação àquelas que estavam localizadas no “asfalto”. Os resultados apontam associações de algumas variáveis no nível individual com detenção e prisão e associação espacial das cenas abertas com os crimes no entorno, tornando-se necessárias intervenções multisetoriais, que considerem a promoção da saúde, o acesso dos usuários aos serviços,o manejo do uso de múltiplas drogas, a diminuição da evasão escolar, alternativas não repressoras para lidar com o uso de drogas em espaço públicos dando prioridade aos programas de abordagem de saúde e assistência social.

In Brazil, crack use in open scenes have been linked by common sense andmainstream media on issues related to violence, urban disorder and criminality in largecities. However studies on this topic in Brazil are very few. Thus, in the first article of thethesis, we identified predictors for arrest and detention of crack and similar users in thecity of Rio de Janeiro and the metropolitan area, from September 2011 to June 2013, bylogistic regression models multilevel. The variables that were predictive of detention and/ or imprisonment were: use of clinical hospital bed, being male, being poliusuário, have0-7 years of education, race/color "black" and 1-year increase in time crack and similaruse. In the second article, we seek to verify the possible association between a set ofscenes open crack use with the occurrence of certain crimes in their surroundings, in thecity of Rio de Janeiro, from January 2011 to October 2012, through a multiple linearregression model. The analyzes show for a possible association between the open crackscenes of use and crimes against property, as well as significant difference in mean crimesagainst property between scenes that were located in "favelas" than those who werelocated in the "asphalt”. The results show associations of some variables at the individuallevel with arrest and detention and spatial association of scenes open with the crimes inthe surroundings, making it necessary multisectoral interventions that consider healthpromotion, user access to services, the management of multiple drug use, reduction ofschool supply, not repressive alternatives to deal with the use of public space in drugsgiving priority to health approach to programs and social assistance.

Putting respondent-driven sampling on the map: insights from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Hard-to-reach populations with high background infection rates for HIV are particularly relevant in countries with restricted HIV epidemics, such as Brazil, where the very dynamics of the epidemic depends on the bridges between those populations and the general population. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) has been one of the key strategies to assess such populations and inform policy making. OBJECTIVES: To geocode and visualize an RDS-based study on 605 heavy drug users, conducted in Rio de Janeiro, in 2009. METHODS: The location and characteristics of the residence of interviewees were collected by an Audio Computer-Assisted Self Interview (ACASI) survey, supplemented by additional information. Place of residence was geocoded and depicted as network graphs and thematic maps. RESULTS: The geographic distribution of the interviewees was found to be very heterogeneous. The recruiting chains progressed slowly during the successive waves toward neighborhoods far from the initial geographic axis. Despite the undeniable progress toward a broader geographic scope as the study proceeded through 11 successive waves, some key geographic areas were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of a large and complex urban area, plagued by structural violence and with a lively drug scene, the study made evident network bottlenecks. Either secondary to its relatively small sample size, structural constraints, or a combination of both, such bottlenecks represent a formidable challenge for RDS or other network-based methods as applied to urban settings with characteristics similar to Rio de Janeiro.

Distribuição e mobilidade espacial de uma amostra de usuários de drogas recrutados pelo método Respondent-Driven Sampling, Rio de Janeiro, 2009 / Distribution and spatial mobility of a sample of users of the method drogas recrutados Respondent-Driven Sampling, Rio de Janeiro, 2009

O Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) é um método de amostragem por cadeias de referência de implementação recente, e constitui uma alternativa para a obtenção de amostras de populações sob maior risco que, via de regra, são de difícil acesso. O RDS parte da premissa de que os próprios participantes são mais eficientes em recrutar indivíduos para o estudo (por serem parte da população-alvo) que os pesquisadores. Em 2005, o então Departamento Nacional de DST e AIDS (Ministério da Saúde) promoveu, com outros parceiros internacionais e a Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), a capacitação de pesquisadores brasileiros em metodologias de amostragem voltadas para populações de difícil acesso e vulneráveis à infecção pelo HIV, sendo um desses métodos o RDS. Nesta dissertação analisou-se a distribuição espacial de uma amostra de usuários de drogas em situação de risco / gravidade, obtida pelo RDS ao longo do processo de recrutamento, assim como a mobilidade dos mesmos no/a partir do município do Rio de Janeiro. O primeiro artigo avalia a distribuição espacial daamostra, onda-a-onda de recrutamento, tendo-se observado que as sucessivas ondas de recrutamento não avançaram a ponto de abranger o espaço geográfico do município de forma minimamente equilibrada, observando-se, pelo contrário, uma forte concentração de participantes na região norte do município, onde estava localizado aunidade de saúde onde foi realizada a pesquisa (Região Administrativa, [RA] de São Cristóvão), como também nas regiões onde as sementes (primeiros participantes / recrutadores do estudo) relataram residir...

Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) is a chain sampling methodology of recent implementation, and constitutes an alternative strategy of obtainingrepresentative samples of populations at greater risk, which, as a rule, are hard to reach. RDS assumes that the participants (members of the targeted community) are more efficient in recruiting subjects for the study than researchers or community health workers. In 2005, the then Department of STD and AIDS, Ministry of Health,promoted, in partnership with international institutions and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), the training of Brazilian researchers in sampling methodologies aimed at hard-to-reach populations, vulnerable to HIV infection, including RDS. This dissertation analyzed the spatial distribution of a sample of drug users at risk for HIV infection and other STIs recruited by a RDS-based study, the very process of their recruitment across successive waves, as well as their mobility. The firstarticle examines the spatial distribution of the sample, following the recruitment process step by step (wave-to-wave). The successive recruiting waves did not progress to the extent it was supposed to and remained far away from equilibrium. Otherwise, we observed a high concentration of participants in the northern part of the municipality of Rio, where the assessment center was located (Administrative Region [AR] SãoCristóvão), as well close to where seeds (first participants of the study) live...

[Features and trend of AIDS, among the elderly in the State of Espirito Santo]. / Características e tendência da AIDS entre idosos no Estado do Espírito Santo.

INTRODUCTION: AIDS among older adults is a public health problem emerging. This study compared the demographic and epidemiological profile and the evolution and trend of the epidemic among men and women aged 50 years and older and 20 to 39 years affected by AIDS in the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil. METHODS: We conducted a time serie study with secondary data from SINAN/AIDS for the period January 1991 to December 2006. RESULTS: In this period were 3,382 reported cases of AIDS in individuals aged 20 to 39 years and 551 cases among individuals with 50 years or older. In both age groups most affected are men. There are differences related to race or color, where the majority of the older is white (45.3% - p-value = 0.044) and the young brown (44.7%, p = 0.003). Illiteracy prevails among the older (17.7% - p-value = 0.001). More than half (80%) of the notifications occurred in cities of medium to large. The main risk factor was heterosexual in both the age groups more frequently to the group of 50 or more (77.3% - p = 0.0001). The cumulative incidence is higher for the age group 20 to 39 years (R(2) = 0.68), but is increasing proportionally between the two bands over the years, with a significant upward trend for both (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The AIDS epidemic among the elderly can be seen growing among older on the Espirito Santo State.

Características e tendência da AIDS entre idosos no Estado do Espírito Santo / Features and trend of AIDS, among the elderly in the State of Espirito Santo

INTRODUÇÃO: A AIDS entre adultos mais velhos é um problema de saúde pública emergente. Comparamos o perfil epidemiológico e sociodemográfico, bem como a evolução e a tendência da epidemia entre homens e mulheres nas faixas etárias de 50 anos e mais e 20 a 39 anos acometidos pela AIDS, no Estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Realizamos um estudo de série temporal, com dados secundários do SINAN/AIDS, no período de Janeiro de 1991 a dezembro 2006. RESULTADOS: Neste período, foram notificados 3.382 casos de AIDS em indivíduos com idade entre 20 e 39 anos e 551 casos entre indivíduos com 50 anos e mais. Em ambas as faixas etárias, os mais acometidos são os homens. Há diferenças referentes à raça/cor, em que a maioria dos mais velhos são brancos (45,3 por cento - p-valor = 0,044) e os mais jovens pardos (44,7 por cento, p-valor = 0,003). O analfabetismo prevalece entre os mais velhos (17,7 por cento - p-valor = 0,001). Mais da metade (80 por cento) das notificações ocorreu em municípios de médio a grande porte. A principal categoria de exposição foi a heterossexual, em ambos as faixas etárias, com maior frequência para o grupo de 50 anos ou mais (77,3 por cento - p=0,0001). A incidência acumulada é maior para a faixa etária de 20 a 39 anos (R²=0,68); porém, vem aumentando proporcionalmente, entre as duas faixas no decorrer dos anos, com tendência de crescimento significativa para ambas (p <0,01). CONCLUSÕES: A epidemia de AIDS pode ser considerada em expansão entre mais velhos no Espirito Santo.

INTRODUCTION: AIDS among older adults is a public health problem emerging. This study compared the demographic and epidemiological profile and the evolution and trend of the epidemic among men and women aged 50 years and older and 20 to 39 years affected by AIDS in the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil. METHODS: We conducted a time serie study with secondary data from SINAN/AIDS for the period January 1991 to December 2006. RESULTS: In this period were 3,382 reported cases of AIDS in individuals aged 20 to 39 years and 551 cases among individuals with 50 years or older. In both age groups most affected are men. There are differences related to race or color, where the majority of the older is white (45.3 percent - p-value = 0.044) and the young brown (44.7 percent, p = 0.003). Illiteracy prevails among the older (17.7 percent - p-value = 0.001). More than half (80 percent) of the notifications occurred in cities of medium to large. The main risk factor was heterosexual in both the age groups more frequently to the group of 50 or more (77.3 percent - p = 0.0001). The cumulative incidence is higher for the age group 20 to 39 years (R² = 0.68), but is increasing proportionally between the two bands over the years, with a significant upward trend for both (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The AIDS epidemic among the elderly can be seen growing among older on the Espirito Santo State.