title: Contact tracing to identify human immunodeficiency virus infection in a rural community.
abstract: This report describes a contact investigation conducted in rural South Carolina to identify, counsel, and educate persons infected with or exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Starting with one HIV antibody-positive man and his 19 sex contacts, we identified 83 sex contacts of HIV antibody-positive men. Of these, 64 were residents of the county and 63 (98%) agreed to be tested for evidence of HIV infection. Eight (13%) were HIV antibody positive. Thirty-six initially HIV antibody-negative men were reevaluated at a six-month follow-up visit, and three had seroconverted during this time. Of 25 men who reported practicing anal receptive intercourse, 13 (52%) were HIV antibody positive vs none of 43 men who reported strictly anal insertive intercourse. Comparing reported numbers of sexual contacts for the six-month periods before and after our initial investigation, the mean numbers of named sex contacts decreased by 82% for antibody-positive men and 54% for antibody-negative men. None of the men reported using condoms before entering the study; at the six-month follow-up visit, four (80%) of five of the antibody-positive men and 25 (69%) of 36 of the antibody-negative men reported using condoms at least some of the time.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003275:Contraceptive Devices, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012423:Rural Health; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013022:South Carolina