Seasonality in tropical AIDS: a geographical analysis.
This paper presents evidence that the growth rate of the AIDS epidemic at the district level in Uganda, Central Africa, displays a seasonally recurring geographical pattern, with epidemic acceleration in some areas of the country in the first 8 months of each year. The spatial and temporal variations in acceleration appear to be correlated with the predominant agricultural systems in different parts of Uganda. Based upon the frequently hypothesized relationship between malnourishment and the progression to clinical AIDS in HIV-infected people, it is suggested that the variations in epidemic speed reflect the seasonal patterns of nutritional deficiency which occur under some tropical agricultural systems. These preliminary findings require further verification since they have important implications for directing nutrition-related remedial responses to the AIDS epidemic in tropical countries where malnutrition and endemic HIV infection coincide.
Smallman-Raynor
M R
MR
Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, UK.
Cliff
A D
AD
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000383:Agriculture; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012621:Seasons; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology