Differential human immunodeficiency virus risk factors among female general nurses, nurse midwives and office workers/teachers in Zambia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the factors associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are the same among the general nurses, nurse midwives and office workers/teachers.


METHODS
Cross sectional.


METHODS
Schools, offices and hospitals.


METHODS
A total of 370 consenting females from each of the study groups.


METHODS
HIV seropositivity, medical and behavioural risk factors for HIV infection.


RESULTS
HIV seropositive general nurses were more likely to report a history of sexually transmitted disease since 1980 (OR 5.17; 95pc CI 1.60 to 15.05), particularly genital ulcer (OR 3.59; 95pc CI 1.30 to 10.85), and they were also more likely to have more sexual partners (OR 4.08; 95pc CI 1.54 to 13.11). HIV seropositive nurse midwives were more likely to have had a blood transfusion (OR 2.17; 95pc CI 1.13 to 4.14), and HIV seropositive office workers/teachers were more likely to have scarification (OR 1.66; 95pc CI 1.07 to 2.57).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the importance of genital ulcers, blood transfusion and scarification as risk factors for HIV intervention studies should be specifically targeted to the sector of the population under study.
Siziya
S
S
Department of Community Medicine, Medical School, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Hakim
J G
JG
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009721:Nurse Midwives; D009726:Nurses; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009817:Office Management; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015024:Zambia