Abstract
High prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and occurrence of drug-resistant strains have been recorded in northern Brazil. Abandonment of treatment and insufficient and inadequate adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have been recorded in the metropolitan area of Belém, the capital of the state of Pará. To identify the sociodemographic profile and level of adherence to ART among women seen at a referral unit in the interior of Pará, northern Brazil. Cross-sectional study at a referral unit for care for PLWHA. We included 86 women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHA) in the Rio Caeté integrated region, northeastern Pará. Social, demographic and behavioral information, as well as the ART level, were obtained using forms that have been described in the scientific literature. Logistic regression models were used to assess associations of variables with ART. Most WLWHA were single (52.4%), young (47.7%) and heterosexual (97.7%), had low levels of education (63.0%), were unemployed (69.8%), had one sexual partner (75.7%), used condoms (46.7%) and were not using either licit drugs (68.7%) or illicit drugs (89.6%). Their adherence level was classified as insufficient , and only their viral load showed an association with ART. The participants' low level of education and poor socioeconomic conditions may have been interfering with their adherence to ART. Such influences can be minimized through multiprofessional interventions that take the individuality of women served by the healthcare service into consideration.
Highlights
In Brazil, the epidemic scenario of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has undergone several changes over time.[1]
In this Brazilian state, high prevalences of HIV infection and occurrences of drug-resistant strains have been recorded among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the cities of Belém and Bragança.[7,8,9,10]
This specialized care service (SCS) formed a reference unit for specialized care relating to HIV/AIDS in the Rio Caeté integrated region, which is located in the northeast of the state of Pará, northern Brazil.[17]
Summary
In Brazil, the epidemic scenario of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has undergone several changes over time.[1]. Over the last ten years, the northern region of Brazil has shown an upward trend in the rate of HIV/AIDS detection: 16.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants were registered in 2007 and 23.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants were registered in 2017 (an increase of 44.2%), with the state of Pará contributing an increase of 55%.2 In this Brazilian state, high prevalences of HIV infection and occurrences of drug-resistant strains have been recorded among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the cities of Belém and Bragança.[7,8,9,10] Abandonment of treatment and insufficient and inadequate adherence to antiretroviral therapy among PLWHA has been recorded in the city of Belém.[11]. Such influences can be minimized through multiprofessional interventions that take the individuality of women served by the healthcare service into consideration
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