Identification of serodiscordant couples, their clinical and laboratory characteristics, and vulnerabilities of HIV transmission risk in Northeastern Brazil in the era of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

Main Article Content

Maíra Gomes Monteiro
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0040-6567
Adriana Farrant Braz
Kledoaldo Lima
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2505-7516
Heloísa Ramos Lacerda

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of HIV serodiscordants couples and their seronegative partners who were candidates for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrPE), and the knowledge about behavioural measures to reduce virus transmission. Methods: The research was performed in Northeastern Brazil, from February 2016 to March 2017. Ninety HIV-positive individuals (Index) and their HIV-serodiscordant partners (n = 17) were submitted for epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory questionnaires, and for rapid laboratory tests for syphilis, hepatitis B and C. Results: High frequencies of HIV-syphilis (34.4%) and HIV-HBV (3.3%) coinfection were detected in the HIV-positive individuals. Three new HIV cases were detected in partners. Most participants in both groups (85.6%, Index; 94.1%, Partners) had an excellent degree of knowledge regarding HIV transmission, although nine seronegative HIV partners with a high risk of HIV infection were identified (53%). HIV-positive individuals had a high frequency of HIV-syphilis co-infection and 10% of them did not use antiretroviral by personal option. Conclusions: Adoption of PrEP and other preventive measures to prevent HIV transmission in serodiscordants couples should be studied and evaluated.



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1.
Monteiro MG, Farrant Braz A, Lima K, Ramos Lacerda H. Identification of serodiscordant couples, their clinical and laboratory characteristics, and vulnerabilities of HIV transmission risk in Northeastern Brazil in the era of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). HSJ [Internet]. 2020May9 [cited 2024May20];10(2):13-9. Available from: https://portalrcs.hcitajuba.org.br/index.php/rcsfmit_zero/article/view/931
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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