Getting knowledge to provide care: prevalence and factors associated with Sexually Transmitted Infections in immigrants from Goiás.

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in immigrants and refugees living in the metropolitan region of Goiânia, Goiás. This is a cross-sectional and analytical study. Data collection was carried out from July 2019 to January 2020 and 308 immigrants and refugees were included in the sample. All were underwent face-to-face interviews and were tested for HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B, using rapid tests. The general prevalence for any of the STIs investigated was 8.8% (95%CI 6.0% - 12.3%), being 5.8% (95%CI 3.6% - 8.9%) for Hepatitis B, 2.3% for Syphilis (95%CI 1.00% - 4.4%) and 0.7% for HIV (95%CI 0.1% - 2.1%). Multiple analysis, using logistic regression, showed that the variables male gender (OR = 2.7) and length of time living in Brazil (OR = 2.6) were significantly associated with STIs (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that STIs are a health problem in immigrants/refugees, which appear to be enhanced with the length of migration in the country. Public policies that guarantee health care for this population shall be considered.