Guaruja presents research on a 35% reduction in HIV diagnoses during the epidemic

The municipality participated in the 15th Congress of the Brazilian Association Sexually transmitted diseases, which occurred in Florianópolis

Guaruja participated in the 15th Congress of the Brazilian Society of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), where he presented research on the 35% drop in HIV diagnosis in the city, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The goal was to understand factors related to test seeking between 2019 and 2022. The event was held between October 4 and 7.

The municipality was represented by nurses from the city’s municipal Testing and Counseling Center (CTAPT) and the program coordinator for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), AIDS and viral hepatitis.

Professionals from the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay also participated in the meeting. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Brazil), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), etc.

“What prompted us to conduct this research was the conclusion that people stopped looking for available places for testing, and therefore the number of tests decreased significantly. Knowing that they reduced it in this way, we are working today to ensure that this number (of tests) grows,” said Lais. Once again at or above what it was before the pandemic.” Marcia Helena spoke about the opportunity to update knowledge. “We participated every day, and it was great to gain knowledge, participate in the workshops and learn about the work of the different sites,” she said.

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They concluded in the research that there was a 35% decrease in seeking HIV tests between 2019 and 2020, due to the World Health Organization’s recommendations for social isolation. There were 1,257 tests performed in 2019, compared to 819 tests in 2020. After vaccination and the end of the isolation period, demand for testing returned. In 2021 there were 1,010 tests and last year 1,033 tests.

Another important fact contained in the document is that reactive diagnoses (that is, when the body has antibodies against HIV) decreased to 21 in 2019 and 12 in 2020, that is, 43% less.

According to the municipal epidemiological surveillance, Guaruja recorded 68 cases of HIV infection in 2019, falling to 36 cases in 2020. In 2021 it reached 68 again, and in 2022, after easing restrictive measures, 76. This year, there are 48 recorded cases of HIV. cases.