Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among incarcerated men in Prison Complex: a cross-sectional study, Santa Catarina, 2023-2024

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and associated factors of HIV, viral hepatitis B and C, and syphilis among incarcerated men in the Prison Complex of Santa Catarina. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among incarcerated men in three prison units in Santa Catarina from August 2023 to January 2024. Questionnaires were administered, and participants' health records were reviewed based on simple random sampling. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios, along with their corresponding confidence intervals, were calculated for the outcomes and independent variables. RESULTS: A total of 555 men were included in the study. The mean age was 31.8±9.5 years. The predominant sociodemographic profile was of young, White, low-educated, single individuals. In the sample, risk behaviors such as having tattoos (87.2%), using inhaled drugs (55.5%), and low adherence to condom use (15.2%) were identified. The overall prevalence of tested sexually transmitted infections (STI) was 16.8%, and 32.6% self-reported current or past STI. The prevalence of HIV was 3.4%; syphilis, 12.4%; hepatitis B, 1.3%; and hepatitis C, 1.8%. Syphilis was associated with a higher number of sexual partners, while hepatitis B and C were associated with older age. CONCLUSION: STI prevalence rates were higher than in the general population, based on diagnoses at prison entry. There were shortcomings in treatment compliance follow-up and retesting, which are essential to interrupt transmission chains.