Vulnerability of the Brazilian LGBT population in HIV treatment

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.

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.

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).

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.