A Health Profile of African Immigrant Men in the United States

African immigrants (AI) are the fastest growing group of immigrants to the U.S. however, their health and health practices remains poorly characterized. Thus, this study aimed to describe the health profile of this under-described U.S. population. In order to contextualize their health profiles, we compared AI (n=95) to other U.S. Black populations, namely African Americans (AA, n=271) and Caribbean American (CA, n=203) immigrants. We used cross-sectional survey data from a prostate cancer health study with 569 Black adult male participants, ages 21 years or older. Demographic characteristics were compared using Chi-square tests and prevalence ratios, and prevalence odds ratios (POR) were estimated for AIs compared to AA and CA immigrants using a log-binomial regression model. Results revealed that AI exhibited significantly lower prevalence of asthma and diabetes, when compared to AA and CA immigrants. Furthermore, AI reported lower consumption of alcohol than AA (POR, 0.43, 95%CI 0.24, 0.75) and lower smoking prevalence than AA (POR, 0.19, 95%CI 0.05, 0.70) and CA immigrants (POR, 0.21, 95%CI 0.05, 0.76). Additionally, AI reported significantly lower medical mistrust than CA (POR, 0.51, 95%CI 0.26, 0.95), significantly low financial strain than CAs immigrants (POR, 1.66, 95%CI 1.00, 2.75) and significantly higher levels of religious coping than both AA (POR, 2.43, 95%CI 1.43, 4.12) and CA immigrant men (POR, 1.78, 95%CI 1.03, 3.08). This study further supports emerging evidence that Blacks in the U.S. are not a monolithic group and that it is necessary to assess the Black subgroups separately. In addition, as one of the fastest growing immigrant populations, it is critical for future research to understand African immigrant's health needs and its correlates.

Vulnerability of the Brazilian LGBT population in HIV treatment

INTRODUCTION

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection affects the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite, and transsexual (LGBT) population. We aimed to identify the indidual vulnerability profile of the LGBT population ling with H/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and correlate it with the treatment situation.

METHODOLOGY

This cross-sectional study included 510 LGBT people living with HIV (PLHIV)/AIDS who attended the Complex of Chronic Communicable Diseases of the municipality of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, between 2008 and 2015.

RESULTS

There was a predominance of indiduals who were white (70.2%), male (98.4%), single (87.1%), aged 25-44 years (70.0%), educated up to high school (47.7%), economically acte (91.2%), under treatment (80.8%), having CD4 > 350 cells/mm3 (77.1%), and having undetectable viral load (53.3%). HIV transmission was mainly sexual (97.0%) and most people used drugs (76.5%). There was a weak correlation between the variables 'in treatment' and acte occupation (r = 0.148, p = 0.001), single marital status (r = 0.128, p = 0.004), white race/colour (r = 0.117, p = 0.008), high school education (r = 0.111, p = 0.012), sexual transmission (r = 0.222, p = 0.000), drug use (r = 0.087, p = 0.049), and CD4 > 350 cells/mm3 (r = 0.118, p = 0.008); and strong correlation between the variables 'in treatment' and undetectable viral load (r = -0.937, p = 0.113).

CONCLUSIONS

The characteristics of the indidual vulnerability of LGBT people involve, among other aspects, issues of gender and social exclusion, a situation that is part of the daily life of PLHIV/AIDS in many scenarios and territories. This can be alleviated with a network of social and health support and effecte and efficient, protecte, attitudinal, and behavioural public policies.

Determinants of coinfection tuberculosis and HIV in prisons in Brazil

INTRODUCTION

Prisons context has the potential for the spread of infectious diseases, like HIV and tuberculosis, which prevalence is higher in the people deprived of liberty compared to the general population.

OBJECTIVE

to analyze which are the determinants of coinfection tuberculosis and HIV in prisons.

METHODOLOGY

Case-control study conducted in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. New cases of tuberculosis in the population deprived of liberty in the period between 2015 and 2017 were considered. Data were obtained through the notification and monitoring system for tuberculosis cases in the state of São Paulo and included sociodemographic and clinical variables and diagnosis and treatment information. The data were analyzed through frequency distribution and bivariate analysis, testing the association of the dependent variable (tuberculosis/HIV coinfection vs. tuberculosis/HIV non-coinfection) with independent variables (sociodemographic, clinical and diagnostics variables) by calculating the odds ratio and p-value.

RESULTS

Among the determinants of tuberculosis/HIV coinfection in prisons, we identified: age between 26-35, 36-55 and 56-84 years, notification in hospitals, negative sputum smear microscopy and culture, X-ray suggestive of another pathology, extrapulmonary and mixed clinical form, and alcoholism. A high percentage of death was also identified among coinfected people.

CONCLUSIONS

identifying the determinants of the tuberculosis/HIV coinfected individual can assist in the development and implementation of guidelines aimed at controlling both infections in the prison environment.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT VICTIMS IN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Objective:

To evaluate the epidemiological profile of motorcycle accident victims in a metropolis with more than one million inhabitants attended in a university hospital of reference in 2017.

Methods:

a retrospective study through the analysis of medical records of 105 motorcycle accident victims in Campinas (SP) attended in a university hospital of reference and who needed surgical procedure in 2017.

Results:

87 patients (82.9%) were men. Multiple fractures were observed in 61 patients (58.1%) and polytrauma was found in 14 patients (13.3%). Tibial fracture was the most frequent, present in 65 cases (61.9%). Exposed fractures occurred in 68 patients (64.7%). Among the polytrauma victims, the most frequent injury was traumatic brain injury (TBI), present in seven patients (6.6%). The mean age was 29.8 years (range 6-63 years). The average length of hospital stay was 14 days (1-87).

Conclusion:

It is essential to investigate and evaluate the victims’ epidemiological profile, as well as the resulting injuries, in order to provide adequate support for the implementation of measures aimed at primary prevention and awareness of the most affected groups. Level of Evidence II, Prognostic studies - Investigating the effect of a patient characteristic on the outcome of disease.

[Analysis of the epidemiological profile of the indigenous community of Hueyapan, Morelos]

BACKGROUND

The epidemiological transition is a phenomenon that has had a different impact between urban and rural settings. The WHO points out that the population with the lowest socioeconomic status is the most adversely affected for the unequal distribution of resources, indigenous people are a part of this population.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the epidemiological profile of the indigenous people of Hueyapan, Morelos during the months of March to June 2017.

METHODS

A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in the indigenous community of Hueyapan, belonging to the municipality of Morelos, in 2017. A sample of 338 households was calculated; as inclusion criteria, those dwellings where the age of residence in Hueyapan was equal to or greater than four years were taken; a systematic sampling was carried out every three households, in addition, Mexico's INEGI and Health Department databases were analyzed from 2011 to 2015.

RESULTS

In relation to morbidity, an upward trend was found in the crude rate, from 119.7 per 1,000 in 2011 to 270.7 per 1000 in 2015, among the most prevalent diseases in those years, infectious diseases were identified as major and the appearance of noncommunicable diseases began to be observed. In relation to mortality, a linear trend was observed in the crude rate of 5.7 per 1000 in 2011 to 6.6 per 1000 in 2015.

CONCLUSIONS

The epidemiological profile of Hueyapan coincides with a process of epidemiological transition where there is a double burden of disease. This suggests a challenge for the public health area that should be addressed from the creation of health strategies, programs and policies aimed at this population from an intercultural approach.