title: Infection with HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B in Ethiopia: a survey in blood donors.
abstract: Sera of all male donors appearing at the blood bank of a regional hospital in Northwest Ethiopia in 1994 (n = 1022) and 1995 (n = 1164), were screened for the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and treponemal antibodies. Additionally, screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was carried out on 549 consecutive sera. In 1995, the crude seroprevalence of HIV-1 infection and syphilis was 16.7% and 12.8%. Seroprevalence of HBsAg was 14.4%. HIV and syphilis seroprevalence was highest in soldiers (30.6% and 20.9%) and daily workers (18.8% and 13.5%), and lowest in farmers (8% and 6.7%). However, farmers had the highest rate of HBsAg (18.8%). HIV-positive donors had an increased risk for being positive for syphilis antibodies (OR = 3.69, 95% CI = 2.69-4.96), but not for HBsAg (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.36-1.67). The data indicate that (i) the HIV epidemic has not yet reached a plateau phase in Ethiopia, and (ii) the transmission and epidemiology of HBsAg in Ethiopia is different from that of HIV and syphilis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Gondar College of Medical Sciences, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Rahlenbeck
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yohannes
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Molla
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reifen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Assefa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001782:Blood Donors; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens