HIV, hepatite B, hepatite C e sífilis: ocorrência e sorodiscordância entre mulheres e seus companheiros

Abstract

HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis are diseases with possible vertical transmission during pregnancy and breastfeeding - the latter in the case of HIV. With the exception of hepatitis C, the main source of these infections in pregnant women is sexual intercourse. The testing of partners of Brazilian pregnant women, although encouraged by the Ministry of Health, is not yet comprehensive. Serology for a given disease is not always concordant between couples. Serodiscordance has been considered a growing source of infection transmission. Some studies have measured this rate among couples, but there is little information in the literature about the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis in sexual partners of Brazilian pregnant women. In addition, the measure of serodiscordance is only cited in relation to HIV. The aim of this cross-sectional baseline study was to evaluate the occurrence and serodiscordance of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis infections in women admitted to the maternal and child unit of a hospital in southern Brazil and their partners, and to describe the characteristics participants' demographic and socioeconomic. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics with prevalence calculations and Confidence Interval (CI 95%) for outcomes (dichotomous variables), which were analyzed separately and together. Women's positive outcomes were measured by rapid HIV test (RT), syphilis treponemal RT, HbsAg, and Anti-HCV. In the partners, they were measured by HIV RT, hepatitis B RT, hepatitis C RT and syphilis treponemal RT. Among the results, it was found that 6.8% of couples had some positive test. In addition, approximately one in 25 participants tested positive for any of the infections surveyed (4.0% women and 4.3% men). Among women, 2.0% already knew they were HIV positive, 2.0% had positive RT for syphilis and there was no positive result for hepatitis B or C. Of all men interviewed, 95.9% agreed to perform the rapid tests. Among them, 1.4% knew they were HIV positive and one partner had chronic hepatitis B infection. There was a similar percentage of men with RT positive for syphilis and hepatitis C (1.4%). Among the 281 couples, most individuals who tested positive for any of the diseases surveyed were in a serodiscordant relationship. These results may contribute to the understanding of HIV infection, hepatitis B and C and syphilis in this population studied. The evidence that the majority of 6.4% of couples with positive results were serodiscordant reinforces the importance of male testing with the intention of preventing negative spouse infection and the consequent vertical transmission of sexually transmitted infections. In addition, the evident male acceptance to perform the test at the time of admission of the partner demonstrated the viability of this strategy during hospitalization in the maternity ward.