Risk behaviours and seroprevalence to HIV, HBV and HCV in patients of the AIDS information and prevention center in Valencia, Spain

• Published in: Gaceta sanitaria Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 16
• Main Authors: Alfonso Gil, R, Hurtado Navarro, I, Espacio Casanovas, A, Santos Rubio, G, Tomás Dols, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.01.1999
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Community Health Centers - statistics & numerical data; Comorbidity; Condoms - utilization; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Education; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B - transmission; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; Hepatitis C - transmission; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - transmission; HIV Seroprevalence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sexual Behavior - statistics & numerical data; Sexual Partners; Socioeconomic Factors; Spain - epidemiology; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology; Spain
• ISSN: 0213-9111

The purpose of this study was to describe the sociodemographic and serologic profiles in a first time consultant population at the Information and AIDS Prevention Center of Valencia (Spain). In addition, the HIV infection risk factors were analyzed. A cross-sectional study was performed on 1,573 persons who consulted during the year 1995. Sociodemographic and infection risk practices data were recorded and serologic information about HIV, HBV and HCV infection were obtained. Exact binomial method with a 95% interval confidence was used to calculate infection prevalence and the chi square test to make comparisons between qualitative variables. Sex distribution was 66,1% males and 31,9% females; mean age was 29,01 (SD: 9.2) years. Sexual intercourse without condom (25.2%) and parenteral drug abusers (22.6%) were the more frequent risk groups seeking consultation about HIV infection. Global HIV infection prevalence was 12.7% (95% CI= 11,2-14,5%). Among HIV seropositive patients, sexual transmission accounted for 30.8% of cases, of which 69.4% were heterosexual relations. The HIV infection prevalence for different risk groups were the following: parenteral drug abusers 36.8% (95% CI= 31,7-42%), heterosexual intercourse with an HIV-infected partner 24.1% (95% CI= 17,1-32,2%) and homosexual intercourse between men 9,5% (95% CI= 5,8-14,5%). HCV antibody prevalence for parenteral drug abusers was 81.2% (95% CI= 76,7-85,1%). Risk practices with a statistically significant association with HIV infection were: being an injecting drug abuser, as well as having an HIV infected and/or a injecting drug abuser partner. Drug parenteral abusers are still the target population for prevention programs. Data suggest that prevention and sexual education programs must continue. The main effort should be focused on the young population and on sexual partners of injecting drug abusers and/or HIV seropositive partners.