AIDS in Brazil, 1982-1988

This article reports the epidemiological profile of AIDS in Brazil from the first case in 1982 to July 1988. Brazil has the 4th largest number of reported AIDS cases but in respect to its population Brazil has the 40th highest incidence of AIDS. The AIDS profile is presented according to spatial distribution age sex and transmission. Most AIDS cases were localized to the Southeast region of Brazil. The incidence of AIDS in Brazil has increased since the 1st case from 0.05 to 6.5 cases per million people. Most cases were discovered in males (92.5%) between the ages of 25 to 45 years old (58.3%). 72.8% of cases were transmitted through sexual contact and 91% of these cases occurred with homosexual and bisexual men. Analysis of the seroprevalence of HIV infection in different groups gave an estimate 200000 to 400000 asymptomatic infected persons.