Análise espacial da infecção pelo HIV em crianças e gestantes do município de Recife, Pernambuco

Abstract

The spread of AIDS is a dynamic process, which focuses on the most vulnerable populations, involving a network of biopsychosocial, behavioral and environmental factors. This study aimed at analyzing the spatial distribution of reported cases of children with AIDS and positiveHIV pregnant women residing in the city of Recife and its correlation with social and health indicators. This is an epidemiological study, ecological-type , conducted with data from the Information System on Notifiable Diseases, Information System on Live Births and Mortality Information System from 2001-2011. Social data were collected from the neighborhoods by census 2010. Epidemiological, socioeconomic and healthindicators were constructed in order to characterize the neighborhoods and its relationship with the HIV disease. The addresses were geocoded and matched with the base map of Recife. Epidemiological characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and for the pregnant data was applied the chi-square test with adjusted residuals using the SPSS.To identify the spatial pattern, data were analyzed by the Moran Global and Local Index, and the mapping techniques BoxMap, LISAMap and MoranMap generated by the software Terraview v4.2.2 and space modules R v2.15.3. The Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression models were used to test associations between the explanatory variables and the incidence rates of children and pregnant women infected. The significance was set at 5%. The results showed increasing linear trend of the epidemics among pregnant women during the spatial period investigated. There was a statistically significant association between the prenatal accomplishment and variables of education (p = 0.037), type of birth (p < 0.001), use of antiretroviral prophylaxis during pregnancy (p = 0.002), at birth (p < 0.001) and in the newborn (p < 0.001). Not accomplishing the prenatal was associated withpregnant women of lower education. All cases of pediatric AIDS were acquired by vertical transmission and 27.2% of children had died.The spatial analysis identified cluster of infected pregnant women in the downtown area and the distal part of the northwestern city, as well as cluster of high incidence of children with AIDS also located in downtown neighborhoods. The bivariate and multivariate analysis showed association of detection rates of HIV in pregnant women and AIDS incidence in children with most socioeconomic and health indicators studied. Precarious living conditions evidenced by low-income areas, high illiteracy and inadequate infrastructure were predictors of vertical transmission of HIV converging to increased cases among underserved populations. Geoprocessing methods were effective in identifying vulnerable groups and high-risk areas for which should be directed preventive care and intersectoral interventions aiming at controlling such a condition. It is concluded that the geographical spread of HIV/AIDS among children and pregnant women in Recife did not occur randomly; reflecting therefore in areas of spatial dependence of the vertical transmission and socioeconomic inequalities and access to health influenced the increased susceptibility of the spread of disease.