The incidence of AIDS was described by an ecological study of Brazilian municipalities, considering cases reported from 1991 to 2000. An increasing incidence was observed in women and among individuals with a low educational level. São Paulo State had different epidemiological profiles when the State Capital was compared to other cities, with an overall 46% of reported cases in the Country; Pernambuco State had almost the same profile since the beginning of the epidemic in Brazil; In Santa Catarina State the category of intravenous drug users had the greatest exposure. The increasing number of cases reported under the category of unknown transmission showed the increased bias in measurement by the surveillance system.
AIDS; Descriptive epidemiology; Ecological study; Surveillance; Brazil
