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.
|
