HIV infection among pregnant women in Lindi, Tanzania, 1989-1993.
One obstacle to contain the HIV-1 epidemic in the general population in Africa is a lack of knowledge about how it is spread in rural areas. We examined 683 pregnant women in 1989 and 484 in 1993 who attended antenatal clinics in Lindi district, Tanzania to determine changes in the prevalence of HIV-1 in a remote area in East Africa. The prevalence rose from 0.44% in 1989 to 8.7% in 1993. Women with more than 1 partner (17.25% vs 2.78%), STD patients (42.4% vs 6.2%), women from urban areas (10.2% vs 3.57%) and patients younger than 21 years were more likely to have HIV antibodies. By logistic regression analysis, 1993 as year of testing was associated with the greatest risk for HIV seropositivity (P < 0.00002) followed by clinical signs of STD (P < 0.00005) and urban residence (P = 0.0275). Teaching of all women attending antenatal care how to minimize their future risk of acquiring HIV is urgently needed as one tool to prevent a fast spread of HIV throughout the continent.
Petry
K U
KU
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Hannover, Germany.
Kingu
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population