Pattern of HIV/AIDS infection in Manaus, State of Amazonas, between 1986 and 2000

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 42; no. 5; p. 543
• Main Authors: Silva, Leila Cristina Ferreira da, Santos, Elizabeth Moreira dos, Silva Neto, Antonio Levino da, Miranda, Angélica Espinosa, Talhari, Sinésio, Toledo, Luciano de Medeiros
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese; English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 01.09.2009
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - epidemiology; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - transmission; Adult; Brazil - epidemiology; Cluster Analysis; Female; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - transmission; Humans; Incidence; Male; Risk Factors; Sexual Behavior; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult; Brazil
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/S0037-86822009000500012

The objective of this study was to describe HIV infection in Manaus, Amazonas, between 1986 and 2000. This was a descriptive study on confirmed cases of HIV/AIDS among adults, from the medical records of the State Reference Service. To delineate the spatial epidemiological profile and historical trends, the following periods were considered: 1986-1990, 1991-1995 and 1996-2000. The behavioral, social and clinical variables were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics. The spatial trends and patterns and the incidence rates were presented according to residential district using thematic maps. Among the 1,400 cases studied, the mortality rate decreased from 61.3% to 17.8% and the gender ratio (four men/one woman) decreased over the study period. The main exposure route was sexual: bisexual (31%) and heterosexual (19.3%). There was a high rate of late diagnosis, made during the symptomatic phase of AIDS (50.8%). This study showed that HIV/AIDS infection in Manaus has spread slowly and progressively from the central area of the city towards the south, north, east and west.