HIV/Aids and COVID-19 in Brazil: in four decades, two antithetical approaches to face serious pandemics.

In the space of four decades, Brazil has faced two serious pandemics: human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The country's response to HIV/AIDS was coordinated by several stakeholders and recognised the importance of scientific evidence in guiding decision-making, and a network offering monitoring and antiretroviral treatment was provided through coordinated efforts by the country's universal health system. Conversely, the lack of a centrally coordinated strategy and misalignment between government ministries regarding the COVID-19 pandemic response, together with the denial of scientific evidence, promotion of ineffective treatments and insufficient vaccination efforts, have all led to the uncontrolled spread of infection, the near-total collapse of the health system and excess deaths.

Homeopathic Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Pregnant Women With Mental Disorders: A Double-blind, Controlled Clinical Trial.

Context • Worldwide, 35 million people suffer from obesity. Mental disorders have been associated with being overweight or obese. Considerable evidence has shown a correlation between stress and the use of homeopathy and stress and obesity. However, few studies have examined the relationship between weight loss and homeopathic treatment of obesity. Objective • The study intended to evaluate the efficacy of a homeopathic treatment in preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy in overweight or obese women who were suspected of having a common mental disorder. Design • The study was a randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial. Setting • The study took place at the Center for the Social Support of Motherhood (São Paulo, Brazil). Participants • Participants were pregnant women who were enrolled at the center. Intervention • For the homeopathic group, 9 drugs were preselected, including (1) Pulsatilla nigricans, (2) Sepia succus, (3) Lycopodium clavatum, (4) sulphur, (5) Lachesis trigonocephalus, (6) Nux vomica, (7) Calcarea carbonica, (8) phosphorus; and (9) Conium maculatum. From those 9 drugs, 1 was prioritized for administration for each participant. After the first appointment, a reselection or selection of a new, more appropriate drug occurred, using the list of preselected drugs. The dosage was 6 drops orally 2 ×/d, in the morning and at night, on 4 consecutive days each wk, with an interval of 3 d between doses, up until the next appointment medical appointment. The control group received the equivalent placebo drug. Both groups also received a diet orientation. Outcome Measures • We evaluated pregnant women who were overweight or had class 1 or 2 obesity and were suspected of having a common mental disorder, with no concomitant diseases, in 2 groups: those receiving a placebo (control group, n = 72); and those receiving homeopathic treatment (homeopathy group, n = 62). Weight change during pregnancy was defined as the difference between the body mass index (BMI) at the initial evaluation and that recorded at the final evaluation, adjusted for 40 wk of gestation. In addition, the APGAR index in the newborn was evaluated as a possible complication. Results • The mean variation between baseline BMI and BMI at week 40 of gestation was +4.95 kg/m2 in the control group and +5.05 kg/m2 in the homeopathy group. The difference between the 2 groups was not significant (P = .815; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.916 to 0.722). APGAR 10 at 5 min (59.6%in homeopathy group and 36.4% among control) was statistically significant (P = .016). Conclusions • Homeopathy does not appear to prevent excessive body mass gain in pregnant women who are overweight or obese and suspected of having a common mental disorder. Homeopathy did not change the APGAR score to modified clinical attention at delivery room. However, the evidence observed at APGAR 10 at minute 5 suggests that homeopathy had a modulating effect on the vitality of newborns, warranting further studies designed to investigate it.

Chemonucleolysis in lumbar disc herniation: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of chemonucleolysis in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: Clinical trials were selected from 3 electronic databases (The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE, and EMBASE). Data were analyzed with the software STATA, using the meta command. RESULTS: Twenty-two clinical trials were eligible. For chemonucleolysis versus placebo, the summary risk ratio estimate for pain relief as outcome was 1.51 (95% CI: 1.27-1.80). The summary estimate was 1.07 (95% CI: 0.95-1.20) for the comparison between chymopapain and collagenase. Regarding chemonucleolysis with chymopapain versus surgery, the fixed-effect summary estimate of effect for pain relief was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.88-0.98) with surgery as the reference group. In this case, heterogeneity was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Chemonucleolysis with chymopapain was superior to placebo and was as effective as collagenase in the treatment of lumbar disc prolapse. Results for studies comparing chemonucleolysis with surgery were heterogeneous, making it difficult to interpret the summary measure of effect.

Regional patterns of the temporal evolution of the AIDS epidemic in Brazil following the introduction of antiretroviral therapy.

We examined the characteristics of the AIDS epidemic in the northeastern region of Brazil, comparing it to the epidemic in Brazil as a whole, and to the state of São Paulo, with respect to the temporal evolution of morbidity and mortality during the period 1990 to 1999, using information from communicable disease reports and mortality records. Since 1996, the incidence rate of AIDS in adults in Brazil as a whole and in São Paulo has been showing a trend towards stability, whereas in the Brazilian northeast the incidence rates of the disease continue to grow. In the northeast, sexual transmission is responsible for more than 80% of cases, injectable drug users (IDU) comprising only a small percentage of cases. There is a greater incidence of AIDS among groups with lower educational levels throughout the country. The comparative analysis of cases of AIDS and of deaths from AIDS shows growth, both in the number of cases and in the number of deaths; however, from 1996 onwards there has been a progressive reduction in the number of deaths in all regions analyzed. With respect to the incidence of cases of the disease acquired by vertical transmission, a significant growth trend can be seen in all regions for cases born in the period 1990-6, but in 1997 temporal analysis showed evidence of a reduction in this growth. In conclusion, temporal changes have occurred in the AIDS epidemic in Brazil, which has been showing a trend towards stability since 1996, when potent ARV therapy was introduced. However, this deceleration is not homogenous throughout all the regions.

[HIV infection during pregnancy: the Sentinel Surveillance Project, Brazil, 2002]. / Infecção pelo HIV durante a gestação: estudo-Sentinela Parturiente, Brasil, 2002.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the actual coverage of HIV infection detection during pregnancy at national level. METHODS: The actual coverage of HIV testing during pregnancy was defined as the proportion of women who attended prenatal care visits (at least one visit), ordering HIV testing and knowledge of test result before delivery. The coverage was estimated by sampling procedures based on the 2002 Sentinel Surveillance Study data. Actual coverage Inequalities were assessed by: country regions; population size of the municipality where delivery took place; and mother's schooling. RESULTS: The actual coverage of HIV testing during pregnancy was 52%. Huge sociogeographic inequalities are seen between the Northeastern (24%) and Southern regions (72%); illiterate mothers (19%) and those with complete basic education (64%); mothers who delivered in small municipalities (36%) and those who delivered in municipalities with more than 500,000 inhabitants (66%). Ministry of Health recommendations were fully followed by only 27% pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: The study results show a need for actions aiming at increasing HIV detection coverage during pregnancy, and indicate that HIV/STD programs should be intensified with joint strategies between the National AIDS Program and infant-maternal programs.

Evaluation of strategies by the Brazilian Ministry of Health to stimulate the municipal response to AIDS.

The aim of this study was to evaluate strategies by the Brazilian Ministry of Health to expand the municipal response to AIDS. Cities "included" and "not included" in Federal strategies for "municipalization" of the response were compared according to the response profile and trends in the epidemic. Multinomial logistic regression was used, among other statistical procedures. Municipalities included from 1994 to 1998 showed higher chances of providing HIV diagnostic testing [OR = 15.0; 95%CI: 5.6-40.1], of having AIDS services [OR = 18.4; 95%CI: 8.4-40.5], and reducing cases involving heterosexual [OR = 3.1; 95%CI: 1.4-7.3], homosexual/bisexual [OR = 3.0; 95%CI: 1.4-6.2], and IDU transmission [OR = 6.6; 95%CI: 2.9-14.9] as compared to those "included in 2003" and "not included". There were no associations between the included Municipalities, greater coverage in prevention, the reduction in cases due to vertical transmission or blood transfusion, or mortality rates. Municipalities with a more structured response were associated with better results. The findings suggest that the municipalization policy contributed to improvement in the local response to AIDS.

Self-rated health by HIV-infected individuals undergoing antiretroviral therapy in Brazil.

In 2008, a survey was applied to a probabilistically selected sample of 1,245 HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy in Brazil. In this work, the analysis was focused on self-rated health. The analysis was conducted according to sex, age, socioeconomic variables, and clinical and treatment-related patient characteristics. Through stepwise logistic regression procedures, the main predictors of good perception of health status were established. Results showed that 65% self-rated health state as good or excellent, 81% do have no or slight difficulty in following treatment, but 34% men and 47% women reported intense or extreme degree of anxiety/worry feelings. Educational level, work situation, presence of side effects and AIDS-related symptoms were the main predictors of good self-perception of health. Problems related to animus status, involving worry and anxiety about the future are still barriers that must be overcome to improve quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS.

[AIDS and transmissible opportunistic diseases in the Brazilian border area]. / AIDS e doenças oportunistas transmissíveis na faixa de fronteira Brasileira.

INTRODUCTION: Person-to-person transmission of HIV and other communicable diseases may be associated with human geographic mobility. This article evaluated the incidence of transmissible opportunistic diseases among AIDS cases that had been reported by municipalities in the Brazilian border area. METHODS: Brazilian border area municipalities were grouped into three cultural regions; the source data was AIDS cases registered with the Ministry of Health from 1990 to 2003, which were classified according to CDC-adapted, Rio de Janeiro/Caracas and death criteria; detected communicable opportunistic diseases were categorized into groups according to transmission: 1) inhalation agent; 2) contaminated water and/or food ingestion, and 3) interpersonal contact. The descriptive evaluation considered cultural region, years of schooling, sex and age group. RESULTS: Different AIDS incidence patterns were observed among groups of opportunistic diseases in each cultural region. The extreme southern region showed the greatest incidence of AIDS; the absolute incidence of female cases was greatest in the category of heterosexual transmission; the number of male cases was greatest among intravenous drug users; transmission was most frequent in the interpersonal contact group, particularly incidences of candidiasis; tuberculoses and pneumonias were most frequent in the inhalation agent transmission group; the contaminated water/food ingestion transmission group showed an unchanged pattern of absolute incidence. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian border area is a very important and heterogeneous geographic phenomenon; AIDS programs must recognize different cultural geographies.

[Professional background and experience of antiretroviral prescribing physicians in the State of São Paulo]. / Formação e experiência profissional dos médicos prescritores de antirretrovirais no Estado de São Paulo.

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the professional profile of physicians who prescribe antiretroviral drugs (ARV) to HIV infected persons in the State of São Paulo. METHODS: Databases from different sources, namely Ministry of Health, São Paulo State Regional Medical Council, National Commission on Medical Residency and the Lattes platform, were consulted. Data concerning socio-demographic characteristics, academic and professional background and experience for the period from October 2007 to May 2009 were analyzed. RESULTS: The regular ARV prescription for 74 thousand patients was issued by 1,609 physicians whose characteristics are: evenly distributed according to gender, aged between 30 to 49 years, live in the metropolitan area of Greater São Paulo, graduated 16.1 years ago on the average, come from 93 different Brazilian medical schools, hold a specialty diploma in 67.5% of cases, most of them in the field of Infectious Diseases (38.9%). The mean number of patients per physician was 10, though 51.6% of physicians prescribed for 20 or more patients. Of these physicians 62% reported specific knowledge or experience with HIV care, although 2.7% of all prescriptions were issued by physicians without this specific qualification. Regions of high AIDS incidence showed a smaller number of prescribing physicians. The cities of Registro and Ribeirão Preto showed the highest concentration of physicians lacking proper credentials. CONCLUSION: The absolute majority of HIV patients receives their prescriptions from duly trained and experienced physicians. Nevertheless, the large number of non-qualified physicians together with the reduced number of physicians in HIV high incidence regions make up the major challenge for comprehensive and adequate care of HIV patients.

[The AIDS epidemic in Brazil and differences according to geographic region and health services supply]. / A epidemia de AIDS no Brasil e as desigualdades regionais e de oferta de serviço.

The aim of this study was to identify different profiles in the AIDS epidemic in Brazil by relating them to the health sector's organization, situations involving increased risk of infection, and the degree of implementation of the response by health services. The Brazilian municipalities (counties) were grouped according to the magnitude of the epidemic and its trends from 2002 and 2006, and were then studied using indicators obtained from secondary databases. Municipalities with large epidemics (39%) displayed more situations associated with risk of infection, and those with an upward trend in incidence (11.5%) showed a lower degree of response. Cities with large epidemics but with downward or stable trends had 68.6% of all the anonymous testing centers and 75.8% of the outpatient clinics, and performed 81.4% of all the HIV antibody tests in the health system. Preventive measures in schools and primary health services showed low coverage rates. Differences were observed between geographic regions. Inequalities in the degree of implementation of the response to HIV may contribute to different profiles in the epidemic around the country.

[The aids epidemic in the State of São Paulo: application of the full Bayesian space-time model]. / A epidemia de aids no Estado de São Paulo: uma aplicação do modelo espaço-temporal bayesiano completo.

The State of São Paulo accounts for approximately 40% of the AIDS cases notified in Brazil and provides a suitable opportunity for space-time analysis aimed at better understanding of the dissemination of HIV/AIDS. Using the AIDS cases notified to the Ministry of Health between 1990 and 2004, among individuals aged 15 years or over, and the Ministry of Health's information system for disease notification (Sistema de Informação de Agravos e Notificação, SINAN) as the information source, the relative risks of AIDS over three-year periods were estimated using full Bayesian models, for each gender. The models used were shown to be adequate for explaining the process of AIDS dissemination in the State of São Paulo and demonstrated the growth among females and in small-sized municipalities. They also suggested that the municipalities currently most affected are in regions of economic growth and have populations of less than 50,000 inhabitants.

Spatial distribution of the human development index, HIV infection and AIDS-Tuberculosis comorbidity: Brazil, 1982 - 2007

INTRODUCTION: AIDS epidemic has given visibility to the incidence of tuberculosis, for being the most frequent opportunistic infection. It is known that individuals who are socially vulnerable are more susceptible to HIV transmission and tuberculosis as well. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to conduct a geoepidemiological study on HIV/AIDS, AIDS-Tuberculosis co-infection and social vulnerability. METHOD: This is an ecological study using incidence rates and the human development index to produce thematic maps and a descriptive analysis of epidemiology. The records of reported cases of HIV/AIDS from 1982 to 2007 were used, considering as cases of AIDS-Tuberculosis those records that were positively diagnosed with tuberculosis and those records with unknown diagnosis of tuberculosis, but showing compatible signs and symptoms with tuberculosis (fever, cough, cachexia and asthenia). RESULTS: The maps allowed the identification of areas with social differences and different patterns of incidence of HIV/AIDS and AIDS-Tuberculosis; regional differences were similar to those found by Josué de Castro, in 1940; regions with higher human development index values also showed higher incidence HIV/AIDS and AIDS-Tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: The prevention of HIV infection must be geographically specific, given socioeconomic and cultural differences. Although official records show decline in AIDS-TB co-infection, treatment of cases of HIV/AIDS should observe the occurrence of opportunistic diseases, which should be notified and/or updated.

INTRODUÇÃO: A epidemia de AIDS deu visibilidade à incidência de tuberculose, por ter sido a infecção oportunista mais frequente nesses casos. Sabe-se que os indivíduos socialmente vulneráveis são mais suscetíveis à transmissão do HIV e também à tuberculose. OBJETIVO: Realizar um estudo geoepidemiológico sobre HIV/AIDS, coinfecção AIDS-tuberculose e vulnerabilidade social. MÉTODO: Trata-se de estudo ecológico com uso de coeficientes de incidência e do índice de desenvolvimento humano para produzir mapas temáticos e uma análise de epidemiologia descritiva. Foram utilizados os registros de notificação de casos de HIV/AIDS de 1982 a 2007. Foram considerados casos de AIDS-tuberculose os registros que tinham o diagnóstico positivo para tuberculose e aqueles que tinham diagnóstico ignorado para tuberculose, mas apresentavam sinais e sintomas compatíveis com a doença (febre, tosse, caquexia e astenia). RESULTADOS: Os mapas permitiram identificar regiões com diferenças sociais e diferentes padrões de incidência de HIV/AIDS e de AIDS-tuberculose. As diferenças regionais assemelham-se às encontradas por Josué de Castro, em 1940. As regiões com índice de desenvolvimento humano alto apresentaram alta incidência de HIV/AIDS e de AIDS-tuberculose. CONCLUSÃO: A prevenção da infecção pelo HIV deve ser geograficamente específica, dadas as diferenças socioeconômicas e culturais. Apesar de os registros oficiais mostrarem declínio da coinfecção AIDS-tuberculose, o tratamento dos casos de HIV/AIDS deve constatar a ocorrência de doenças oportunistas, que deveriam ser notificadas e/ou atualizadas.

[Low birth weight in Brazil according to live birth data from the Ministry of Health, 2005]. / Baixo peso ao nascer no Brasil de acordo com as informações sobre nascidos vivos do Ministério da Saúde, 2005.

Although the Brazilian Information System on Live Births (SINASC) has expanded its coverage and improved its data quality since the system was implemented, the live birth count in Brazil is still not complete. The current study analyzes inequalities in low birth weight in Brazil in 2005, based on geographic factors, municipality of residence, maternal schooling, and prenatal care. An analysis of all live births showed a low birth weight paradox, namely high percentages in areas with the highest socioeconomic development. The main explanation for these paradoxical findings involves shorter neonatal survival and inadequate recording of premature births in poorer municipalities. Considering at-term live births from non-multiple gestations, inequalities were found in maternal schooling. Comprehensive, quality prenatal care could have a greater impact by reducing negative outcomes of gestation and decreasing the socioeconomic inequalities of perinatal health in Brazil.

[Oral health and daily performance in adults in Chapecó, Santa Catarina State, Brazil]. / Saúde bucal e o desempenho diário de adultos em Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brasil.

The use of subjective indicators in dentistry has been increasing. This was a population-based cross-sectional study in the city of Chapecó, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, analyzing the relationship between oral health conditions and quality of life in 35-44-year-old adults (n = 622). A further objective was to observe the influence of habits, dental visits, self-evaluation of health status, and socio-demographic characteristics in this process. The sample was selected using a multiple-stage approach. Trained professionals collected the data. A multiple non-conditional, hierarchical logistic regression model was used to analyze the determinants of low (Oral Impact on Daily Performance - OIDP or= 10) interference of oral health in daily routine. The response rate was 81%. Oral health status was found to interfere in the daily routine of 20.7% of participants and was more severe for 11.4%. Household crowding, low-income neighborhoods, female gender, and orofacial pain in the previous six months were associated with higher interference in quality of life. The use of subjective indicators in public health services planning and definition of priority groups for delivery of oral health services is highly recommended.

Evaluation of strategies by the Brazilian Ministry of Health to stimulate the municipal response to AIDS / Avaliação de estratégias do Ministério da Saúde para incentivar a resposta municipal a AIDS no Brasil

The aim of this study was to evaluate strategies by the Brazilian Ministry of Health to expand the municipal response to AIDS. Cities "included" and "not included" in Federal strategies for "municipalization" of the response were compared according to the response profile and trends in the epidemic. Multinomial logistic regression was used, among other statistical procedures. Municipalities included from 1994 to 1998 showed higher chances of providing HIV diagnostic testing [OR = 15.0; 95 percentCI: 5.6-40.1], of having AIDS services [OR = 18.4; 95 percentCI: 8.4-40.5], and reducing cases involving heterosexual [OR = 3.1; 95 percentCI: 1.4-7.3], homosexual/bisexual [OR = 3.0; 95 percentCI: 1.4-6.2], and IDU transmission [OR = 6.6; 95 percentCI: 2.9-14.9] as compared to those "included in 2003" and "not included". There were no associations between the included Municipalities, greater coverage in prevention, the reduction in cases due to vertical transmission or blood transfusion, or mortality rates. Municipalities with a more structured response were associated with better results. The findings suggest that the municipalization policy contributed to improvement in the local response to AIDS.

Avaliar as estratégias do Ministério da Saúde para ampliar a resposta municipal a AIDS. Cidades "incluídas" e "não incluídas" nas estratégias federais de municipalização foram comparadas segundo perfil da resposta e da epidemia. Regressão logística multinomial foi usada, entre outros procedimentos estatísticos. Municípios incluídos entre 1994/98 apresentaram maior chance de ofertar o diagnóstico do HIV [OR = 15,0; IC95 por cento: 5,6-40,1], possuir serviços de AIDS [OR = 18,4; IC95 por cento: 8,4-40,5] e reduzir casos por transmissão heterossexual [OR = 3,1; IC95 por cento: 1,4-7,3], homo/bissexual [OR = 3,0; IC95 por cento: 1,4-6,2] e uso de drogas injetáveis [OR = 6,6; IC95 por cento: 2,9-14,9] do que os "incluídos em 2003" e os "não incluídos". Não houve associações entre municípios incluídos, a maior cobertura de prevenção e a redução de casos por transmissão vertical, transfusão de sangue e taxas de mortalidade. Municípios com resposta mais estruturada associam-se a melhores resultados. Os achados sugerem que a política de municipalização contribuiu para aprimorar a resposta.

Self-rated health by HIV-infected individuals undergoing antiretroviral therapy in Brazil / Autoavaliação do estado de saúde por indivíduos infectados pelo HIV em terapia antirretroviral no Brasil

In 2008, a survey was applied to a probabilistically selected sample of 1,245 HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy in Brazil. In this work, the analysis was focused on self-rated health. The analysis was conducted according to sex, age, socioeconomic variables, and clinical and treatment-related patient characteristics. Through stepwise logistic regression procedures, the main predictors of good perception of health status were established. Results showed that 65 percent self-rated health state as good or excellent, 81 percent do have no or slight difficulty in following treatment, but 34 percent men and 47 percent women reported intense or extreme degree of anxiety/worry feelings. Educational level, work situation, presence of side effects and AIDS-related symptoms were the main predictors of good self-perception of health. Problems related to animus status, involving worry and anxiety about the future are still barriers that must be overcome to improve quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Em 2008, um inquérito foi conduzido em uma amostra selecionada probabilisticamente de 1.245 pessoas infectadas pelo HIV em terapia antirretroviral no Brasil. No presente trabalho, foram investigadas associações da autoavaliação da saúde com sexo, faixa etária, nível socioeconômico e características do paciente. Para as análises multivariadas foram utilizados modelos de regressão logística, tendo como variável resposta a autoavaliação boa ou excelente. Os resultados mostram que 65 por cento autoavaliaram sua saúde como excelente ou boa, 81 por cento relataram nenhuma ou pouca dificuldade em seguir o tratamento, porém, 34 por cento dos homens e 47 por cento das mulheres relataram grau intenso ou muito intenso de sentimento de preocupação ou ansiedade. Nível de escolaridade, situação de trabalho, ausência de efeitos colaterais e ausência de sintomas foram os principais fatores associados à boa percepção à saúde. Problemas no estado de ânimo, envolvendo preocupação e ansiedade com o futuro, não foram ainda superados e são barreiras a serem enfrentadas para a melhoria da qualidade de vida dos pacientes de AIDS.

AIDS e doenças oportunistas transmissíveis na faixa de fronteira Brasileira / AIDS and transmissible opportunistic diseases in the Brazilian border area

INTRODUÇÃO: A transmissão do HIV e de outras doenças transmissíveis, de pessoa a pessoa, pode ser associada à mobilidade humana. Este trabalho avaliou a incidência de doenças oportunistas transmissíveis entre os casos de AIDS, nos municípios da faixa de fronteira brasileira. MÉTODOS: Os municípios da faixa de fronteira brasileira foram agrupados em três regiões culturais; foram consideradas as notificações feitas ao Ministério da Saúde, entre 1990 e 2003, que tenham sido feitas com os critérios de definição CDC adaptado, Rio de Janeiro/Caracas e óbito; as doenças oportunistas detectadas foram agrupadas de acordo com o tipo de transmissão: 1) inalação do agente; 2) ingestão de água/alimento contaminado e 3) contato interpessoal. A análise descritiva considerou regiões culturais, anos de escolaridade, categoria de transmissão, sexo e faixa etária. RESULTADOS: Houve diferentes padrões de incidência de AIDS nos grupos de doenças oportunistas em cada região cultural. A região extremo-sul apresentou a maior incidência de AIDS; o número de casos de AIDS do sexo feminino foi maior na categoria heterossexual; o número de casos de AIDS do sexo masculino foi maior entre usuários de drogas injetáveis; as doenças transmitidas pelo contato interpessoal foram as mais frequentes, destacando a incidência de monilíases; a tuberculose e a pneumonia foram as mais frequentes dentre as doenças transmitidas pela inalação do agente; as doenças transmitidas pela ingestão de água/alimentos contaminados mostraram um padrão de incidência estável. CONCLUSÕES: A fronteira brasileira é um espaço geográfico importante e heterogêneo; o enfrentamento da AIDS deve reconhecer as diferentes geografias culturais.

INTRODUCTION: Person-to-person transmission of HIV and other communicable diseases may be associated with human geographic mobility. This article evaluated the incidence of transmissible opportunistic diseases among AIDS cases that had been reported by municipalities in the Brazilian border area. METHODS: Brazilian border area municipalities were grouped into three cultural regions; the source data was AIDS cases registered with the Ministry of Health from 1990 to 2003, which were classified according to CDC-adapted, Rio de Janeiro/Caracas and death criteria; detected communicable opportunistic diseases were categorized into groups according to transmission: 1) inhalation agent; 2) contaminated water and/or food ingestion, and 3) interpersonal contact. The descriptive evaluation considered cultural region, years of schooling, sex and age group. RESULTS: Different AIDS incidence patterns were observed among groups of opportunistic diseases in each cultural region. The extreme southern region showed the greatest incidence of AIDS; the absolute incidence of female cases was greatest in the category of heterosexual transmission; the number of male cases was greatest among intravenous drug users; transmission was most frequent in the interpersonal contact group, particularly incidences of candidiasis; tuberculoses and pneumonias were most frequent in the inhalation agent transmission group; the contaminated water/food ingestion transmission group showed an unchanged pattern of absolute incidence. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian border area is a very important and heterogeneous geographic phenomenon; AIDS programs must recognize different cultural geographies.