Abstract

CALVO, Fran; GIRALT, Cristina  and  TURRO, Oriol. Prevalence of tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and Hepatitis C Virus in homeless population. Index Enferm [online]. 2016, vol.25, n.4, pp.248-252. ISSN 1699-5988.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of tuberculosis, AIDS and Hepatitis C in a representative sample of homeless people in Girona, and set the connections with the main factors related to sociodemographic and health habit aspects. Methods: Transversal, observational and analytic study, CHI square, and multivariate regressive logistics. Results: There is a prevalence of tuberculosis infection of 40.2% and tuberculosis of 5.2%, both factors related to socioeconomic factors. The rate of VIH was 7.2% and VHC was 11.7%. Those people who had consumed drugs through parenteral ways were the ones with the highest infection risk of both VIH (p=0.002) and VHC (p<0.001). Conclusions: Since the time of permanence on the street is not a main factor associated to the contagion of the analysed diseases, it is necessary to carry out an intense follow up and specific programmes to prevent the disease risk factors in homeless people.

Keywords : Homeless persons; Tuberculosis Infection; Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Hepatitis C Virus; Risk factors.