Sociodemographic Characteristics and Risk Behaviors in Patients Recently Diagnosed Positive to HIV-1 in the Northwest México-USA Border

INTRODUCTION: The Tijuana-San Diego border is an international metropolitan area in the northwest of Mexico -USA border. Recently there have been many migrants from the southeast states of Mexico and people deported from the U.S. jails who arrived in Tijuana and remain in poor socioeconomic conditions. We considered important to determine the sociodemographic, behavioral characteristics and access to health services of patients newly diagnosed  positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) who live in this complex and multicultural population of Tijuana, Baja California, México. 

METHODS:  This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study in a non randomized sample of 46 HIV-positive patients who had not received antiretroviral treatment in the twelve months prior to the blood sampling who attend the Ambulatory Center for prevention and treatment of patients with AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (CAPACITS) in Tijuana from January, 2013 to June 2013. A structured survey for monitoring 2013 HIV/STD program (Centro Nacional para la prevención y el control del VIH/SIDA),  was applied to each patient to explore and statistically analyze the sociodemographic and behavioral variables.

RESULTS: 46 patients infected with HIV-1 were included in the study, mean age 35 years, 74% were man,18% had recently pay for sex and  did not use condom, 88% who recently did not pay for sex did not use condom.60% of men who recently charged for anal sex  did not use condom, 28% of man who did not charged for anal sex did not use condom. 15% used drugs intravenously and 10% used several times the same syringe. !0% reported abuse by health personnel. 

CONCLUSIONS:  Although the sample is small, it appears that risk behaviors for HIV/AIDS, poor sociodemographic conditions and poor access to health services  continue to occur in the border city of Tijuana. We need to approach the underlying problem more effectively.