HIV-INFECTION AMONG BRAZILIAN TRANSVESTITES IN A PRISON POPULATION

Eighty-two male transvestites imprisoned in Casa de Detencao (Sao Paul o, Brazil) were tested for HIV antibodies, and completed a questionnai re investigating their demographics, arrest and imprisonment records, sexual practices, and drug use. Data were then analyzed to evaluate th e incidence of HIV infection and its association with various behavior al and other factors. Sixty-four of 82 (78%, 95% confidence interval [ CI], 67-87%) transvestites were positive for HIV infection. The factor s associated with significant differences in positivity among these in dividuals were the time spent in prison and the number of sexual partn ers during the previous year. It appears that the high rate of infecti on in this group obscured the importance of other risk factors and beh avioral patterns potentially associated with infection. Given the soci al environment and the high rate of HIV infection among imprisoned tra nsvestites, their role as ''vectors'' for dissemination of HIV in urba n areas of Brazil may be significant.