Infecção pelo vírus da hepatite A em mulheres transgêneras: prevalência e fatores associados

Abstract

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is a serious public health problem, and transgender women constitute a group that is still stigmatized and quite vulnerable to communicable infections. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological profile of hepatitis A virus infection in transgender women in Goiás. Cross-sectional, analytical study, carried out between March 2018 and August 2019, with 440 trans women being recruited, in which the sampling technique was used Respondent Driven Samplin. All women participated in data collection through a structured questionnaire and were tested using serological markers for anti-HAV (IgG-IgM) by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). Bivariate and multivariate analyzes were performed using logistic regression in order to identify factors associated with HAV. More than half self-declared transsexual (66.3%), with a positive marker for anti HAV-IgG (75.6%), single (82.7%), aged between 22 and 30 years, self-declared black/ brown (71.6%), educational level between 10 and 12 years of study (61.3%) and monthly income between R$ 1,000.00 and R$ 3,000.00. Women aged between 20 and 30 years were 6.37 times more likely to have had previous contact with the virus. Those who had less than 10 years of formal education were 5.81 times more likely to be positive for anti-HAV IgG compared to other ages. Although there was no statistically significant association for anti-HAV positivity, some risky sexual and non-sexual behaviors deserve attention, such as sex work, oral and oroanal sex, non-use of condoms, considerable number of weekly sexual partners and group sex, in addition to the use of illicit drugs and prior arrest. The results showed that very young people may be more likely to be exposed to the infection and the shorter the time of schooling, the less knowledge and information about protection and prevention measures for HAV. And there is a need for prevention programs for communicable infections in this population, such as guaranteeing and facilitating access to the hepatitis A vaccine and health education actions regarding preventive and behavioral measures.