Hiv/AIds Mortality Among Youth Aged 15–29 in Brazil (2010–2023)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection affects the immune system and, if untreated, progresses to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), increasing the risk of opportunistic infections. In Brazil, despite progress in access to antiretroviral therapy, regional and social inequalities persist. Youth aged 15–29 years represent a vulnerable group due to both biological and socioeconomic factors. This study analyzed HIV-related mortality in this group between 2010 and 2023, with regional and sociodemographic breakdowns. Observational, descriptive, and retrospective study using HIV mortality data from 2010 to 2023 from the DATASUS database. Annual death records were analyzed by sex, education, race/color, marital status, region, and place of death. Analyses were performed using SPSS v.29.0 with descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and Pearson correlation, adopting a 5% significance level. Between 2010 and 2023, the annual mean of HIV-related deaths decreased from 328.6 (2010) to 242.4 (2023). The reduction was significant among women (r = -0.342; p = 0.004), with deaths decreasing from 123 to 68; among men, the variation was not statistically significant (p = 0.038). The Southeast region had the highest mean (581 deaths; p = 0.000) and the Central-West the lowest (99). A positive correlation was found between region and female deaths (r = 0.300; p = 0.012). By education level, there was a significant decline in categories of 1–3 years (r = -0.381), 4–7 years (r = -0.269), and records with missing information (r = -0.402), with means dropping from 41.6 to 19.2 and from 100.8 to 57.6. Regarding marital status, reductions were observed among married (from 21.8 to 9.0) and widowed individuals (from 2.0 to 1.0), with no statistical difference. Hospitals were the most frequent place of death (mean of 228 in 2023); other sites remained stable. By race/color, deaths among white individuals decreased (from 131 to 73; r = -0.249; p = 0.038) and among unclassified cases (r = -0.487; p = 0.000); Black and mixed-race individuals maintained higher averages (144 to 124), with no statistical difference. There has been significant progress in reducing HIV mortality among young people, particularly among women and those with lower education levels. However, regional and racial inequalities persist. Strengthening intersectional, regionally adapted public policies that address gender, territory, and race remains essential to effectively combat the epidemic in Brazil.