The HIV epidemic in Zambia: socio-demographic prevalence patterns and indications of trends among childbearing women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine socio-demographic HIV prevalence patterns and trends among childbearing women in Zambia.


METHODS
Repeated cross-sectional surveys.


METHODS
Personal interviews and unlinked anonymous testing of blood samples of women attending antenatal care in selected areas.


RESULTS
The 1994 data includes information from 27 areas and a total of 11,517 women. The HIV prevalence among urban residents appeared with moderate variation at a very high level (range 25-32%, comparing provinces). The geographical variation was more prominent in rural populations (range 8-16%) and was approximately half the prevalence level of the urban populations. With the exception of the 15-19 years age-group, HIV infection was found to rise sharply with increasing educational attainment (odds ratio, 3.1; confidence interval, 2.6-3.8) when contrasting extreme educational levels. Although the assessment of trends is somewhat restricted, the available information indicates stable prevalence levels in most populations over the last 2-4 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The data showed extremely high HIV prevalence levels among childbearing women. Longer time-intervals between surveys are needed, however, in order to verify the stability in prevalence identified by this study. The tendency to changing differentials by social status is suggested as a possible sign of an ongoing process of significant behavioural change.
Fylkesnes
K
K
Epidemiology and Research Unit, National AIDS, STD, TB & Leprosy Programme, Lusaka, Zambia.
Musonda
R M
RM
Kasumba
K
K
Ndhlovu
Z
Z
Mluanda
F
F
Kaetano
L
L
Chipaila
C C
CC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003710:Demography; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology