Factors associated with sexually transmitted infection/HIV diagnosis among a predominantly university population in Brazil

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

In Brazil, the increasing prevalence of HIV infection in young people makes it critical to know its distribution in university communities. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the impact of STI/HIV testing campaigns on university campuses from 2013 to 2017. The participants took part in rapid testing for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and counseling sessions. A total of 2691 people participated in the campaigns. Of these, 79.4% were single, and 50.3% were women. The median age was 24 years old, and 77.9% of participants had ≥12 years of formal education. Most reported having unprotected sex in the last year (87.4%). The positivity rates for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus were 0.56%, 1.20%, 0.19%, and 0.11%, respectively. The characteristics associated with HIV infection were being men who have sex with men (MSM) (aOR = 12.06; 95% CI = 3.83–37.99) and having <12 years of schooling (aOR = 3.28; 95% CI = 1.03–10.38). Factors associated with syphilis seropositivity were older age (aOR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.03–1.09), multiple partners (aOR = 2.44; 95% CI = 1.08–5.50), and being MSM (aOR = 5.40; 95% CI = 2.49–11.72). Positivity for hepatitis B tended to decrease with the years of testing ( p = 0.023) and for hepatitis C to increase with age ( p = 0.035). Our study observed a high vulnerability to HIV and syphilis infection in a university community, which needs an early prevention strategy, including regular testing, continuing sexual education, easy access to condoms, and pre- and postexposure HIV prophylaxis.