PURPOSE: to assess human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) seroprevalence among pregnant women attended at Public Health Units in Goiânia-Goiás and some epidemiologic characteristics of the studied group. METHODS: from September/2003 to December/2004, 15,485 pregnant women were submitted to enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays (ELISA), to screen HTLV-I, using filter paper - dried blood in, and to confirm the infection, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of whole blood was performed. The epidemiologic factors evaluated were: average age, age of 30 years and above, schooling less than nine years, marital status and number of pregnancies. The factors average age, age of 30 years and above, and schooling less than nine years were compared between the infected and non-infected pregnant group. Statistical analysis used Fisher's exact test and Student's t test. RESULTS: the found prevalence was 0.1%. The average age among the infected pregnant group was 26.4 years, 43.7% of them being 30 years old and above, and 62.5% with schooling less than nine years. The non-infected group showed an average age of 24.4 years, 15.4% of them being ³ 30 years old and above, and only 41.5% with schooling less than nine years. Significant statistical difference was noticed only regarding age of 30 years and above and schooling less than nine years. CONCLUSION: the study shows that HTLV-I seroprevalence among pregnant women in Goiânia during the studied period was 0.1%. It occurred more among pregnant women who were 30 years old and above and those with schooling of less than nine years.
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; Disease transmission; vertical; Pregnant women; Pregnancy complications; infectious; Seroepidemiologic studies
