Resumen

CARCAMO C, César, BLITCHTEIN-WINICKI, Dora, VALVERDE R, Ada et al. Estudio basal de prevalencia de sífilis y VIH y comportamientos asociados en población privada de libertad, Perú 1999 . Rev. perú. med. exp. salud publica, ene./mar. 2003, vol.20, no.1, p.9-14. ISSN 1726-4634.

Objective: To determine HIV and syphilis prevalence and to identify behavioral risk factors in jail prisoners. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study conducted during 1999 in 22 Peruvian jails. RPR was used to detect syphilis (linked results) and ELISA to screen HIV (non-linked results). Positive results were confirmed with IFI and Western Blot. A structured survey was carried out, resulting data was analized with SPSS 9,0 and AMOS 4. Results: 6 963 PPL participated. HIV and syphilis seroprevalence were 1,1 % and 4,1% respectively.The most significant HIV risks factors were: drug abuse (OR: 2,7), sexually transmitted diseases (OR: 2,3), sexual intercourse between males (OR: 2,2), cocaine use (OR: 2,1), genital ulcer (OR: 2,1), previus incarcelation (OR:2), and having a tattoo (OR: 1,99). The most significant syphilis risks factors were, sexual intercourse between males (OR: 2,8), sexually transmitted diseases (OR: 2,4), genital ulcer (OR: 1,8), sexual intercourse with sex workers (OR: 1,5) and having more than two sexual partners (OR: 1,5). An association between HIV infection and having a tattoo, having more than two sexual partners, more than one previous imprisonment and genital ulcer, was found using a structural equation model. Conclusions: Important rates of HIV and Syphilis prevalence were found among this group, thus making necessary the performace of similar research that may allow the knowledge of new trends (second generation surveillance) and to assess the impact of possible interventions. 

Palabras llave: HIV / Epidemiology; Syphilis / Epidemiology; Risk factors; Peru.