Notification of cases of HIV/AIDS among the elderly in the state of Ceará: the historical sequence between 2005 and 2014

Abstract

Abstract Objective: to describe the historical sequence and characteristics of reported cases of HIV/AIDS among the elderly in the state of Ceará from 2005 to 2014. Method: a descriptive study was carried out, based on the Ministry of Health database, available in SINAN (Disease Cases Notification Information System) from January 2005 to December 2014. The variables studied were: gender, race, schooling, marital status and exposure category. Result: a total of 10,299 new cases were reported in the state, 1.5% (151) of which related to the elderly. The majority of those affected lived in Fortaleza (85.6%), were aged between 60 and 69 years (86.8%), were male (60.9%), brown (61.6%), had a level of schooling below unfinished elementary (42%), were heterosexual (85.4%) and had a marital status of married (29.3%). The proportion of male/female cases peaked in 2005 (5.5: 1) and declined thereafter reaching an average value of 0.8: 1 in the period between 2008 and 2011, then increased again, reaching 3.3: 1 in 2014. The highest coefficients were observed in the groups with lower schooling. Conclusion: according to the notifications during the period evaluated, AIDS among the elderly showed a tendency of growth among men, aged between 60 and 69 years old, who were heterosexual, less educated and married. This justifies the strengthening of specific strategies aimed at this population with the objective of tackling the disease.