VIH y vulnerabilidad: una comparación de tres grupos en Cali, Colombia

objective: to identify socio-demographical characteristics and risk behaviors for hiv /aids and hiv status in three groups of participants from different socio-economic background in cali. methodology: between 2005 and 2007, an active surveillance campaigns was done and included 4055 voluntary participants who gave informed consent, answered a structured questionnaire, and received pre- and post-test counseling and hiv testing. the participants were grouped in three categories: a total of 1217 from low socio-economic status (lse), with low education and high unemployment (n1), 899 employed workers with technical-professional schooling and upper-middle socio-economic status (n2), and 1939 students of private universities and upper-middle socio-economic status (n3). socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors and hiv knowledge self-perception were assessed. statistical analyses: chi square, and independent t tests with significance <0.05, 95% confidence intervals. results: overall prevalence of hiv was 0.62%; in the n1 group prevalence was 1.97%, significantly higher than in the other two groups, (p<0.0001). conclusions: a higher prevalence of hiv in the n1 (lse) group was evident, along with a more frequent history of previous sexual transmision disease (std), and poorer self-perception of hiv knowledge, highlighting the need to strengthen std and hiv prevention and testing strategies targeting this group.