ABSTRACT
Cette étude confirme que le taux de séroprévalence pour l'infection à VIH1 est préoccupant dans cette région frontalière. La situation géographique exceptionnelle de ce village; et l'importance des transactions commerciales qui y sont effectuées en font un point de convergence pour des femmes se livrant à la prostitution. S'installe alors; une prostitution occasionnelle non contrôlée qui fait de ce village un foyer épidémique important et une source potentielle de dissémination. Ce modèle n'est pas unique et montre que l'épidémie gagne les zones rurales par l'intermédiaire des places marchandes ou il devient impératif d'apporter aux populations l'information et l'éducation nécessaires. Ainsi les prostituées et les filles libres sont des populations cibles qu'il conviendrait d'informer et d'éduquer rapidement et en priorité dans ces régions si l'on ne veut pas voir la situation exploser dans un avenir proche
Subject(s)
Cameroon , Sex WorkersABSTRACT
An epidemiological study of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and syphilis has been carried out in a multiethnic community of seven neighbouring villages located in eastern Gabon on 1240 subjects over 5 years old (82.7% of the population in this age range). Antibodies to HTLV-1 (anti-HTLV-1) were detected by ELISA with confirmation by Western Blot and antibodies to syphilis by Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory assay with confirmation by the Treponema pallidum haemaglutination assay. The prevalence rate of anti-HTLV-1 was 8.5% and increased from 3.7% in the 5-14 years age group to 23.8% in the over 60 years age group. Logistic regression showed that the positivity for anti-HTLV-1 was associated with age, ethnic group and sex (higher prevalence in females). The seroprevalence rate of syphilis was 8.2%. Seropositivity for syphilis and HTLV-1 were related but age was a confounding variable in this relationship. This study showing a highly heterogeneous distribution of HTLV-1 in a geographically limited area suggests the role of environmental and behavioural factors in HTLV-1 transmission.
Subject(s)
Ethnicity , HTLV-I Infections/epidemiology , Population Surveillance , Syphilis/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Blotting, Western , Child , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Gabon/epidemiology , HTLV-I Infections/blood , HTLV-I Infections/complications , HTLV-I Infections/transmission , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Syphilis/blood , Syphilis/complications , Syphilis/transmissionABSTRACT
Cette etude montre que le taux de seroprevalence pour l'infection a VIH 1 est preoccupant dans cette region frontaliere. La situation exceptionnelle de ce village a la conjonction du Tchad; de la Republique Centrafricaine et du Cameroun; sur un axe de commerce avec le Nigeria laisse a penser que l'avancee se fait le long des axes routiers par l'intermediaire de la prostitution. Ainsi les prostituees; les filles libres et les camionneurs sont des populations cibles qu'il conviendrait d'informer et d'eduquer rapidement et en priorite dans cette region si l'on ne veut pas voir la situation exploser dans un avenir proche
Subject(s)
HIV Infections/transmission , HIV Seroprevalence , Knowledge , Sex WorkABSTRACT
The authors report the results of 3 sample surveys carried out in Libreville, Ngounié and Haut-Ogooué Provinces to evaluate the main malarial indexes among 0 to 15 years old children in Gabon. These investigations would suggest that malaria is mesoendemic in the three areas. The systematic presumptive antimarial treatment of fever attacks is widely used in Libreville but not so frequent in rural areas.
Subject(s)
Malaria/epidemiology , Adolescent , Animals , Antimalarials/administration & dosage , Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Child , Child, Preschool , Epidemiologic Methods , Female , Gabon/epidemiology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Malaria/blood , Malaria/drug therapy , Male , Plasmodium falciparum , Prevalence , Rural Population , Urban PopulationABSTRACT
The prevalence and transmission of syphilis was studied in a semirural community in south eastern Gabon. The overall prevalence was 8% (99/1251) and there was no difference in age adjusted prevalence between men and women. The transmission of syphilis between sexual partners occurred in 18.1% (8/44).
Subject(s)
Sexual Partners , Syphilis/transmission , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Gabon , Humans , Infant , Male , Syphilis/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Hepatitis B virus markers and antibodies to delta agent were studied in adult people (15-54 years) in the province of Haut-Ogooue (Gabon), randomly selected by cluster sampling technique. Of the 384 people, 37 (9.6%) were positive for HBsAg, of which 23 (62.2%) were positive for HBeAg; 246 (65.3%) had anti-HBs and 53 (13.8%) had anti-HBc as the only marker. Chronic carriage of HBV defined as presence of HBsAg or exclusive anti-HBc was observed in 90 people (32%). At least one of the HBV markers was found in 89% of the people. Women were more frequently positive than men. No difference in relation to age was observed. Anti-delta was found in 12 (3.5%) of the 341 people with HBV markers and 7/12 of these could be considered as chronic HBV carriers.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B Antibodies/immunology , Hepatitis B virus/isolation & purification , Adolescent , Adult , Biomarkers/blood , Female , Gabon , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
In 1986 a survey to determine the distribution of HTLV-I infection was conducted in Gabon in a representative sample of adults and children. Five samples were taken in adults and 2 samples in children living in urban and rural areas. Samples were taken by the cluster sampling technique, i.e., clusters of randomly selected households. Sera were tested for IgG antibodies to HTLV-I by ELISA. ELISA-positive sera were retested by Western blot. The study comprised 1,874 adults and 684 children, all apparently healthy. In the adults the crude prevalence rates of anti-HTLV-I antibodies ranged from 5.0% in urban areas to 10.5% in the southern province. In rural areas, the age-adjusted prevalence rate (9.1%) was significantly higher than in urban areas (5.0%) (p less than 0.01). In children there was no significant difference between urban (2.4%) and rural (2.0%) prevalence rates. Prevalence increased with age but was not related to sex. This survey shows that HTLV-I infection is common in Gabon but varies considerably by region.
Subject(s)
HTLV-I Infections/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Child, Preschool , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Gabon , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The seroprevalence of syphilis was studied in an urban and a semi-rural community in Gabon by a cluster sampling technique. The crude prevalence rate of treponemal infection in the semi-rural population was estimated to be 13.3 +/- 5.0% and in the urban population 19.4 +/- 4.6%. The age-adjusted prevalence rate was significantly higher in the urban than in the semi-rural population. In both areas, it was significantly higher in men than in women. No significant difference was observed according to age. These high rates indicate the need for a control program for sexually transmitted diseases.
