Sexually transmitted diseases and sexual behaviour as risk factors for HIV-2 infection in Bissau, Guinea Bissau.
Patients enrolled in a hospital-based case control study (n = 1009) and a follow-up study (n = 130) of HIV-2 infection in Bissau were investigated with regard to sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted diseases (STD). A history of genital ulcer was more frequent in HIV-2 infected male patients (46.4%, 13 out of 28) than in seronegative male patients (17.9%, 7 out of 39) (P = 0.05). Serological evidence of a previous syphilitic infection was significantly related to HIV-2 infection (23%, 12 out of 52, of HIV-2 seropositive patients had a positive Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test compared with 7.1%, 5 out of 70, of seronegative patients, P = 0.025) and was equally frequent in men and women. There was no significant difference in number of non-marital sexual partners and frequency of intercourse between HIV-2 seropositive and seronegative individuals. The seroprevalence of HIV-2 infection was significantly higher among patients with a monogamous marriage, 23.1% (59 out of 255) among males and 31.3% (64 out of 204) among females, than among patients with an officially polygamous marriage, 10.3% (8 out of 77) among males and 11.8% (7 out of 59) among females (P = 0.025 for males and 0.005 for females). Infection-control measures directed at patients with STD should be promoted in Guinea-Bissau. Further research on sexual behaviour and attitudes is needed.
National Bacteriological Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden.
A
A
Nauclér
P
P
Albino
A P
AP
Da Silva
G
G
Biberfeld
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006169:Guinea-Bissau / Q000453:epidemiology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior