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

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in immigrants and refugees living in the metropolitan region of Goiânia, Goiás.

Method: 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.

Results: 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).

Conclusion: 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.