title: Geographic variation in human immunodeficiency virus seroconversion rates in the U.S. Navy.
abstract: The Navy population is centered around 19 U.S. home ports and several inland duty stations. This is a study of variation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroconversions in Navy enlisted men by location in the United States, based on 949,570 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and 812 seroconversions during 1987-90. Seroconversion rates were higher in personnel in San Francisco (p = 0.0004), Washington, D.C. (p = 0.001), and Orlando, FL (p = 0.04) than in other areas. They were lower in Charleston, SC, New London, CT, Seattle; and Brunswick, ME (p < 0.05). Black men had triple the seroconversion rate of all other men (p < 0.0001). After adjustment for race, age, marital status, and occupation, risk of seroconversion remained high in San Francisco (p = 0.02) and Orlando (p = 0.03). The risk of seroconversion in San Francisco was twice that of other areas in a cohort that did not change location (p = 0.01). In contrast to declining trends overall in the Navy, rates did not decrease in Washington, D.C., a result consistent with previous calculations indicating a delayed second wave of HIV infection in the region.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California 92186-5122.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Gorham
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Brodine
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Balazs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009326:Naval Medicine; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People