(PL42) LOW TESTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIV AMONG IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES LIVING IN CENTRAL BRAZIL

Background:
Forced migration worldwide can be a challenge for HIV control; therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the opportunity for HIV testing among immigrants and refugees in Brazil and to estimate the infection prevalence.

Methods:
This is a cross-sectional study conducted with 308 immigrants in vulnerable situations and refugees resident or passing through the central region of Brazil. Data collection was conducted from July 2019 to January 2020. All participants were interviewed and after underwent rapid HIV testing, provided by the Brazilian Ministry of Health.

Results:
The majority were male (56.8%), aged between 16 to 33 years (53.9%), in terms of region of origin, 62.3% were from Central America, with Haiti being the predominant country of origin of the participants in this study (56.2%), followed by Venezuela (27.3%) and the Dominican Republic (5.9%). All were asked if they had ever been tested for HIV at any point in their lives, 51.6% reported that they had not or did not know, and among those who stated they had been tested, the vast majority (95%) reported a negative result, and 5% did not know the result. In this study, the HIV prevalence was identified as 0.6% (2 out of 308 participants), with only one of the two individuals who tested positive for the infection having previously undergone an HIV test, which had returned a negative result.

Conclusion:
Despite the low prevalence of HIV identified in this study, the limited access to testing for this infection among immigrants and refugees living in the central region of Brazil raises concerns. The findings of this study could be pivotal for intervention strategies in future programs designed to welcome immigrants in vulnerable situations and refugees arriving in Brazil and other countries, emphasizing the necessity of incorporating testing for HIV and other transmissible diseases during reception.