Truck drivers in Brazil: prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, risk behavior and potential for spread of infection.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV and syphilis and related risk behavior in a sample of truck drivers in Santos Brazil. A cross-sectional study was performed of 300 male truck drivers recruited in the port of Santos Brazil including a face-to-face interview and blood sampling for HIV and syphilis serology. Of 300 subjects 4 (1.3%) were positive for HIV 25 (8.3%) were positive for syphilis by the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test and 38 (13%) were positive for syphilis by the fluorescent treponemal antibody (absorbed) test (FTA-Abs). 71% had been employed as truck drivers for more than 10 years and 93% lived outside of Santos. Most participants were married (72%); 40% reported having more than one sex partner; 21% reported sex with commercial sex workers; 14% reported sex with girls they met on the road; 16% had sex with other mens wives; and 3.3% reported sex with men during the past year. The use of rebite an oral stimulant was reported by 43% and was associated with being FTA-Abs-positive (P = 0.04). Being HIV-positive was associated with having sex with friends (P = 0.04) partners usually considered safe by truck drivers. Being syphilis-positive (VDRL) was significantly associated with sex with partners also considered as safe namely primary sex partners steady partners and other mens wives. This is the first study to determine HIV and syphilis seroprevalence among truck drivers in South America. Findings confirm that this group has a high potential risk for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases and thus currently presents an opportunity for prevention. (authors)