Seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis infection in prisoners of the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

The living conditions of the prison population favors the spread of often asymptomatic infectious diseases which can be taken to the community. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and C, as well as possible co-infections among prison inmates in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul. We conducted a cross-sectional study of records of serological analyses of the Regional Prison of Santa Cruz do Sul, state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) performed between January 2016 and June 2017. Data were obtained from files of the 13th Regional Laboratory of Santa Cruz do Sul. We included in the study all serological records obtained regarding the following diseases: syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C. We analyzed data from 349 convicts with the mean age of 31 (± 8.56) years, ranging from 18 to 59 years, with the predominance of males 86%. Positive results: 6% for syphilis, 4.9% for HIV, and 8.3% for hepatitis C. Regarding hepatitis B the data obtained were 86% of subjects were susceptible to the virus, 1.1% were in the acute phase, 1.4% in chronic phase, 5.7% with past infection and 2.2% in immunological window period. Co-infections detected were: 0.3% (n = 1) syphilis/hepatitis C, 0.6% (n = 2) HIV/ hepatitis B, and 0.9% (n = 3) HIV/hepatitis C and HIV/syphilis. The prison environment provides data from a population at high risk for spread of infectious diseases and we found a high prevalence in this study. Combative measures such as information, identification and treatment are urgent to prevent the spread of these diseases.