title: The epidemic of HIV/AIDS in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire: a review of data collected by Projet RETRO-CI from 1987 to 1993.
abstract: We present a review of epidemiologic data collected by Projet RETRO-CI between 1987 and 1993 on trends in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 infections and on cases of AIDS in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Overall rates of HIV infection in pregnant women had already reached 10% in 1987, and have increased only modestly since then. In contrast, in 1992-1993, rates in men with sexually transmitted diseases and in female commercial sex workers reached 27 and 86%, respectively. The increases in infection rates have been largely due to transmission of HIV-1, whereas rates of HIV-2 have remained stable or have declined. Among persons with tuberculosis and hospitalized patients, rates of 46-71% have been reached, increases in recent years again being largely attributable to HIV-1. Among the 15,245 AIDS cases reported by Projet RETRO-CI, a steady decline in the male:female sex ratio has occurred over time, from 4.8:1 in 1988 to 1.9:1 in 1993. It is likely that AIDS cases were initially concentrated among a core group of female commercial sex workers and their male clients. A substantial proportion of sex workers and their clients originate from neighboring countries, and migration is likely to have contributed to the spread of HIV infection in West Africa. Including HIV-associated pulmonary tuberculosis as an AIDS-defining illness increased AIDS cases reported by Projet RETRO-CI by 13% in 1993. Despite a need for interventional research, careful description of the evolution of HIV/AIDS in this region remains essential.
authors.affiliation: Projet RETRO-CI, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Djomand
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sassan-Morokro
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tossou
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ekpini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghys
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Soro
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brattegaard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yapi
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011477:Sex Work; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies