Perfil epidemiológico da ocorrência de HIV/Aids no Rio Grande do Norte no período de 2012 a 2022

Abstract

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a serious public health problem, as is infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which, when left untreated, severely limits the host's ability to respond. This global epidemic, which began in the 1980s, has affected millions of people all over the world. In Brazil, from 1980 to June 2022, 1,088,536 cases of AIDS were detected. The objective of the present work is to carry out a survey about the epidemiological profile of HIV/AIDS in Rio Grande do Norte, in the period from 2012 to 2022. It is a descriptive epidemiological study with a quantitative approach about the profile of HIV and AIDS in the municipality of Natal, using secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). During the period studied, 6,012 cases of HIV/AIDS were reported in the RN, 42.2% of which were in Natal. Males were prevalent (74.2%). Sexual transmission of HIV prevailed, with 39.9% among men who have sex with men (MSM) and 31.4% among heterosexuals. Most cases occurred among brown individuals (70.4%), who did not complete elementary school (28.7%), followed by 23.6% of individuals with complete secondary education. In the state of Rio Grande do Norte, 1,245 deaths were registered, and in the municipality of Natal, 477 deaths were registered, which represents 38.3% of deaths in the state. The epidemiological profile of HIV/AIDS in the state of Rio Grande do Norte presents a scenario of interiorization and a tendency of youth.