title: Risk factors for HIV-1 infection among women in the Arusha region of Tanzania.
abstract: Risk factors for HIV-1 infection among women were assessed through a population-based cross-sectional study in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania. The study participants were obtained by randomly selecting 10-household clusters from Unga limited, the town of Babati, and the roadside village of Matufa, which are urban, semi-urban, and rural communities, respectively. Informed verbal consent for participation in an interview and in HIV-1 testing was sought from each respondent. Blood samples were collected from each consenting individual for HIV-1 antibody testing using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and all positive sera were confirmed using repeated ELISA tests. Information of risk factors was obtained through the interview process using a structured questionnaire. Of the 567 women who gave blood samples, 48 (8.5%) were HIV-1 positive. The HIV-1 seroprevalence rates among women in the urban area, the semi-urban area, and the rural village were 14.4%, 6.9% and 2.3%, respectively. Factors associated with significantly higher HIV-1 seroprevalence were urban residence; history of having traveled out of the Arusha region within Tanzania, as well as having traveled abroad; having multiple sex partners; and having sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol. Women who reported ever having used condoms had significantly higher probability of being infected with HIV-1 than those who had never used condoms, suggesting that condom use may be a marker of high-risk sexual behavior and that condom use is probably not adhered to in a way that consistently protects against HIV-1 infection. These results suggest the need for health education interventions aimed at increasing appropriate and consistent condom use and reduction of the number of sexual partners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Mnyika
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Klepp
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kvåle
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ole-King'ori
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D017280:Condoms; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014195:Travel; D014505:Urban Population; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies