title: HIV and reproductive tract infections in a total village population in rural Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: women at increased risk.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and biological risk factors associated with HIV infection in a rural population in Tanzania. A population-based study of a village population was carried out from July 1991 through January 1992. A total of 3,239 people (83.7%) participated in an HIV serosurvey. The total HIV prevalence was 0.7 and 1.9% among males and females, respectively (odds ratio, OR = 2.5; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.2-5.1), and 4.3% in women and 1.6% in men in participants aged 15 to 44 (OR = 2.6; CI: 1.2-5.8). The same age group was interviewed and offered screening for STDs. Trichomonas vaginalis vaginitis (24.7%) was the most common reproductive tract infection (RTI); 10.3% of women were infertile and 10.6% suffered from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Comparing women and men, we found that 2.2 versus 20.4% had been treated for genital discharge (OR = 12.6; CI: 7.1-22.5); 2.6 versus 1.2% suffered from active syphilis (OR = 1.5; CI: 0.9-2.3); 6.9 versus 9.6% had chlamydial infection; and 46.9 versus 14.6% had an ongoing RTI/STD (OR = 5.0; CI: 3.6-6.9). A significant association was found between HIV infection and STD cases (in women) and between HIV infection and a history of STDs (in men). The heavy burden of untreated RTIs in females calls for a more gender-specific approach to HIV and STD prevention.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klouman
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Masenga
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Klepp
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Sam
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nkya
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nkya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health