Vulnerability of the Brazilian LGBT population in HIV treatment

Authors

  • Thaisa Fernanda Lourenção Tauyr Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6303-3892
  • Luciano Garcia Lourenção School of Nursing, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1240-4702
  • Maria Amélia Zanon Ponce Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5283-6323
  • Francisco Rosemiro Guimarães Ximenes Neto Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7905-9990
  • Maria de Lourdes Sperli Geraldes Santos Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6110-619X
  • Natália Sperli Geraldes Marin dos Santos Sasaki Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8627-9713
  • Silvia Helena Figueiredo Vendramini Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3061-0355

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.13707

Keywords:

Health Profile, Sexual and Gender Minorities, HIV, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, LGBT population, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection affects the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite, and transsexual (LGBT) population. We aimed to identify the indidual vulnerability profile of the LGBT population ling with H/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and correlate it with the treatment situation.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 510 LGBT people living with HIV (PLHIV)/AIDS who attended the Complex of Chronic Communicable Diseases of the municipality of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, between 2008 and 2015.

Results: There was a predominance of indiduals who were white (70.2%), male (98.4%), single (87.1%), aged 25–44 years (70.0%), educated up to high school (47.7%), economically acte (91.2%), under treatment (80.8%), having CD4 > 350 cells/mm3 (77.1%), and having undetectable viral load (53.3%). HIV transmission was mainly sexual (97.0%) and most people used drugs (76.5%). There was a weak correlation between the variables ‘in treatment’ and acte occupation (r = 0.148, p = 0.001), single marital status (r = 0.128, p = 0.004), white race/colour (r = 0.117, p = 0.008), high school education (r = 0.111, p = 0.012), sexual transmission (r = 0.222, p = 0.000), drug use (r = 0.087, p = 0.049), and CD4 > 350 cells/mm3 (r = 0.118, p = 0.008); and strong correlation between the variables ‘in treatment’ and undetectable viral load (r = -0.937, p = 0.113).

Conclusions: The characteristics of the indidual vulnerability of LGBT people involve, among other aspects, issues of gender and social exclusion, a situation that is part of the daily life of PLHIV/AIDS in many scenarios and territories. This can be alleviated with a network of social and health support and effecte and efficient, protecte, attitudinal, and behavioural public policies.

Author Biography

Luciano Garcia Lourenção, School of Nursing, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Professor at School of Nursing, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

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Published

2021-10-31

How to Cite

1.
Lourenção Tauyr TF, Garcia Lourenção L, Zanon Ponce MA, Guimarães Ximenes Neto FR, Sperli Geraldes Santos M de L, Sperli Geraldes Marin dos Santos Sasaki N, Figueiredo Vendramini SH (2021) Vulnerability of the Brazilian LGBT population in HIV treatment. J Infect Dev Ctries 15:1481–1488. doi: 10.3855/jidc.13707

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 10: October 2021

Section

Original Articles

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