ABSTRACT
A prospective study was conducted in the Chiang Mai Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic to determine the frequency of HIV seroconversion among men following high risk sexual contacts and to establish risk factors for HIV infection. HIV antibodies were detected in 26 out of 150 men on the initial recruitment with a seroprevalence rate of 21%. Among 124 initial HIV negative subjects; 100, 77, 68, and 55 subjects were followed for 2, 4, 12, and 24 weeks, respectively. One subject had HIV seroconversion documented with the rate of 1.0% (1/100, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.03-5.4%). Logistic regression analysis found significantly independent associations of HIV prevalence with prostitute visits at least once a month (OR = 3.6, 95% CI = 1.2-10.9), and with cigarette smoking (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.2-10.5). Intensive health education should be elucidated to decrease the high rate of HIV infection among this population.
Subject(s)
AIDS Serodiagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Developing Countries , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Seropositivity/epidemiology , Humans , Incidence , Male , Mass Screening , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Sex Work/statistics & numerical data , Risk , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology , Smoking/adverse effects , Thailand/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Transmission of HIV-1 from an infected mother to her infant is the major route of transmission of this infection for children. In sub-saharan Africa where heterosexual transmission of HIV is the commonest mode of spread; high prevalence of HIV infection in women of child bearing age is bound to lead to increased paediatric AIDS as a result of vertical transmission. In recognising these epidemiological factors; the University of Nairobi HIV-1 Perinatal Transmission and Paediatric AIDS Project was initiated in 1986. Antenatal mothers attending Pumwani Maternity Hospital were enrolled during labour and screened for HIV-1 infection by ELISA. Those reacting positive were recruited to participate in the study. An equal number of negative controls were also recruited. The mothers and babies of both groups were followed for varying periods over the next five years. A total of 360 babies born to HIV infected mothers and 360 babies born to HIV negative mothers were examined. The mortality rate observed in the HIV-1 exposed was substantially higher than that observed in controls (RR2.8; 95CI1.3-6.1). Common causes of death among infected infants were pneumonia; measles; malaria; gastroenteritis; tuberculosis and spticaemia. The five year survival was 85 among HIV infected children. Maternal risk factors associated with transmission were marital status; duration of sexual activity and age at first intercourse