Introduction: Globally, it is estimated that for every seven new human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) infections, two occur among young people. Spatial analysis studies are essential
tools in the fight against HIV. Objective: To spatially analyze the Brazilian historical scenario
of the HIV epidemic among young men, from 2007 to 2021. Methods: An ecological study that
used secondary databases from the Notifiable Diseases Information System. All cases of HIV
and immunologically acquired disease syndrome (AIDS) among men between 15 and 29 years
of age and with fixed residence in Brazil were considered. The 5,570 Brazilian municipalities
were considered as the unit of analysis and the HIV/AIDS incidence rate standardized by age
group as a variable. The following spatial analysis techniques were used: 1) Spatial
Distribution, 2) Spatial Autocorrelation and 3) Spatial Scan. Results: 108,392 cases of HIV
were reported in Brazil among young men during the study period. The Southeast Region had
the highest incidence rates, followed by the Northeast, South, North and Midwest regions. The
HIV epidemic showed territorial expansion in all Brazilian regions, with the exception of the
southern region, which contracted. Although there has been a decrease in the number of
hotspots in all regions, in the North and Northeast regions there has been an expansion in the
size of hotspots. There was no expansion of coldspots in the regions. The space-time risk zones
were comprised between 2015 and 2021 and all were formed by state capitals and surrounding
municipalities. Conclusion: The different behaviors of the HIV epidemic in Brazilian regions
may be associated with different regional sociopolitical scenarios. The consolidation, expansion
and emergence of new hotspots point to locations where the fight against HIV among young
people should be strengthened. The space-time risk analysis shows that the highest HIV
detection rates occur in municipalities with higher demographic densities, and the long time
period suggests fragility in policies to combat the virus. For the elimination of HIV, greater
integration of municipalities, states and the federal government is necessary in the search for
greater social equity.
|
