Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Doctors with Africa CUAMM, 70123 Bari, Italy.
Viruses. 2023 Jan 15;15(1):249. doi: 10.3390/v15010249.
Migrant populations are more susceptible to viral hepatitis and HIV due to the epidemiology from their country of origin or their social vulnerability when they arrive in Europe. The aims of the study are to explore the incidence of HIV and HCV in low-wage agricultural migrant workers and their knowledge, attitude, and practice with regard to HIV and HCV, as well as their sexual behaviour and risk factors. As part of the mobile clinic services, we performed a screening campaign for HIV-HCV involving migrants living in three Apulian establishments. Results: Between January 2020 and April 2021, 309 migrants (n. 272, 88% male, mean age 28.5 years) were enrolled in the study. Most of the migrants interviewed (n = 297, 96%) reported a stopover in Libya during their trip to Italy. Only 0.9% (n. 3) of migrants reported having been tested for HCV, while 30.7% (n. 95) reported being tested for HIV. Furthermore, screening tests found four migrants (1.3%) to be HIV positive and nine (2.9%) to be HCV positive. The median knowledge score was 1 (IQR 0-3; maximum score: 6 points) for HCV and 3 (IQR 1-4; maximum score: 7 points) for HIV and low use of condoms was 5% (n. 16), while more than 95% show an attitude score of 5 (IQR 5-6; maximum score:6 points) on HIV-HCV education campaigns. In a multivariate analysis, being male (OR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.28−1.92), being single (OR = 1.63; 95% CI 1.20−2.03), being of low educational status (OR = 2.09; 95% CI 1.29−2.21), living in shantytowns for >12 months (OR = 1.95; 95% CI 1.25−2.55), and originating from the African continent (OR = 1.43; 95% CI 1.28−2.01) are significant predictors of poor knowledge on HCV. Our data show low knowledge, especially of HCV, confirming migrants as a population with a higher risk of infection. To develop education programmes, integrated care and screening among migrants could be an effective strategy, considering the high attitude toward these items shown in our study.
移民人口由于原籍国的流行病学情况或他们抵达欧洲后的社会脆弱性，更容易感染病毒性肝炎和艾滋病毒。本研究的目的是探讨低薪农业移民工人中 HIV 和 HCV 的发病率，以及他们对 HIV 和 HCV 的知识、态度和实践，以及他们的性行为和危险因素。作为流动诊所服务的一部分，我们对居住在普利亚大区的三个机构中的移民进行了 HIV-HCV 筛查活动。结果：2020 年 1 月至 2021 年 4 月期间，共有 309 名移民（n. 272，88%为男性，平均年龄 28.5 岁）入组研究。接受访谈的大多数移民（n = 297，96%）报告在前往意大利的途中曾在利比亚停留。只有 0.9%（n. 3）的移民报告曾接受过 HCV 检测，而 30.7%（n. 95）的移民报告曾接受过 HIV 检测。此外，筛查检测发现有 4 名移民（1.3%）HIV 阳性，9 名（2.9%）HCV 阳性。HCV 的中位数知识评分是 1（IQR 0-3；最高评分：6 分），HIV 的中位数知识评分是 3（IQR 1-4；最高评分：7 分），而使用安全套的比例为 5%（n. 16），而超过 95%的人对 HIV-HCV 教育活动的态度评分为 5（IQR 5-6；最高评分：6 分）。在多变量分析中，男性（OR = 1.72；95%CI 1.28-1.92）、单身（OR = 1.63；95%CI 1.20-2.03）、教育程度低（OR = 2.09；95%CI 1.29-2.21）、居住在棚户区超过 12 个月（OR = 1.95；95%CI 1.25-2.55）和来自非洲大陆（OR = 1.43；95%CI 1.28-2.01）是 HCV 知识较差的显著预测因素。我们的数据显示，知识水平低，特别是 HCV 知识水平低，证实移民是感染风险较高的人群。为了制定教育计划，针对移民开展综合护理和筛查可能是一种有效的策略，因为我们的研究表明他们对这些项目的态度很高。
