Silva Filho Gabriel Francisco da, Milhomem Antoninho Barros, Diniz E Silva Bruno Vinícius, Santos Kamila Cardoso Dos, Costa E Silva Grazielle Rosa da, Magalhães Larissa Silva, Moura Winny Éveny Alves, Martins Thaynara Lorrane Silva, Gonçalves Wanessa de Oliveira, Matos Marcia Alves Dias, Gonzales Roxana Isabel Cardozo, Pacheco Leonora Rezende, Martins Regina Maria Bringel, Caetano Karlla Antonieta Amorim, Carneiro Megmar Aparecida Dos Santos, Teles Sheila Araújo
Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
Institute of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
PLoS One. 2025 Jul 11;20(7):e0325859. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0325859. eCollection 2025.
Vulnerable populations were disproportionally affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its peak periods disrupted progress toward the control and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among socio-economically vulnerable populations during the COVID-2019 pandemic in Goiania, Central Brazil. A total of 627 individuals, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, homeless individuals, waste recyclable collectors, and immigrants/refugees, were tested for these infections. Multiple Poisson regression models were used to analyze the factors associated with each outcome. HBV exposure markers were found in 16.1% of participants, antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV) in 1.9%, syphilis in 17.2%, and antibodies against HIV (anti-HIV) in 6.1%. Thirty-two individuals exhibited serological evidence of active syphilis, whereas HBV deoxyribonucleic acid and HCV ribonucleic acid were detected in six and two individuals, respectively. Increased age was statistically associated with HCV, HBV, and syphilis; identifying as LGBT and reporting a history of STIs was associated with syphilis and HIV. Illicit drug use was associated with HCV and HIV, whereas being an immigrant/refugee or engaging in transactional sex was linked to HBV. Homelessness and reporting a higher number of sexual partners in the previous month were associated with syphilis. High prevalence rates of these infections were identified, with many participants showing evidence of active infections, increasing the risk of transmission. Specific risk behaviors were associated with each infection, emphasizing the need to tailor prevention strategies to address these behaviors effectively.
弱势群体受到2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行的影响尤为严重，其高峰期扰乱了性传播感染（STIs）控制和预防工作的进展。本研究旨在调查巴西中部戈亚尼亚市在COVID-19大流行期间社会经济弱势群体中乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）、丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）、梅毒和人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）的流行情况及相关因素。共有627人接受了这些感染的检测，其中包括女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋和跨性别者、无家可归者、废品回收者以及移民/难民。采用多重泊松回归模型分析与每种结果相关的因素。在16.1%的参与者中发现了HBV暴露标志物，1.9%的人有抗丙型肝炎病毒抗体（抗-HCV），17.2%的人感染梅毒，6.1%的人有抗人类免疫缺陷病毒抗体（抗-HIV）。32人有活动性梅毒的血清学证据，而分别在6人和2人中检测到HBV脱氧核糖核酸和HCV核糖核酸。年龄增长与HCV、HBV和梅毒在统计学上相关；自我认同为LGBT群体且报告有性传播感染病史与梅毒和HIV相关。使用非法药物与HCV和HIV相关，而作为移民/难民或从事交易性性行为与HBV相关。无家可归以及报告前一个月有较多性伴侣与梅毒相关。发现这些感染的患病率很高，许多参与者有活动性感染的证据，增加了传播风险。特定的风险行为与每种感染相关，强调需要制定针对性的预防策略以有效应对这些行为。
