Fatores de vulnerabilidade relacionados ao conhecimento sobre infecções sexualmente transmissíveis em população periférica da Amazônia brasileira

Abstract

Sexually Transmitted Infections are a worldwide public health problem and are widely distributed among different populations in the Brazilian Amazon. The state of Pará has the second highest AIDS mortality rate in Brazil and an increasing increase in the incidence of notifiable sexually transmitted infections, with people with low education being the most affected. This epidemiological context occurs in a capital that has low coverage of family health strategy teams in territories that lack basic infrastructure and with marked social inequities. In this way, social inequalities and access to health services can cause inequalities in the health of populations both at the individual and community levels. Considering this context and the absence of studies, this study aimed to analyze the vulnerability factors to knowledge about sexually transmitted infections in a peripheral population in the Brazilian Amazon. This is an observational, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, carried out in areas of Bairro Montese. The study included 300 people aged 18 years or over. The collection took place between October and December 2019, through the application of questionnaires in the participants' homes. The American Questionnaire Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire and the sociodemographic questionnaire with questions related to vulnerability factors were used. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistical methods, chi-square test and ordinal logistic regression, in the Bioestat 5.3 and Minitab 18® programs. 300 participated in the study. The average age of the participants was 46.09 years. There was a higher frequency of females (68.4%), Catholic (49.1%), with children (82.2%), high school (50.9%), mixed race (65%), married / union stable (51.6%), lives with spouse (47.5%), does not work (56.9%), economic classification C criterion Brazil (51.6%), income below one minimum wage (42.5%). There was a significant association between low knowledge and illiterate / elementary education, income equal to or less than one salary, Brazil criterion of economic classification C, D and E, single marital status, lack of guidance by a health professional and not receiving lubricating gel. The age groups of 28 to 37 years and 38 to 47 years were associated with the high level of knowledge. Conclusion: The social and programmatic dimensions of vulnerability were related to low knowledge, making it necessary for the actions of public social and health policies to bring about changes through interventions at the community level.