title: Feasibility of northern Thai factory workers as participants in HIV vaccine trials.
abstract: To determine the feasibility of establishing a cohort of HIV-1 seronegative factory workers for potential HIV vaccine trials, and other HIV preventive interventions, we enroled and followed 499 male and female industrial workers in Lamphun Province, northern Thailand. A baseline demographic and HIV seroprevalence survey was conducted by a mobile team at worker's housing units in Lamphun Province in 1994. Follow-up HIV and syphilis incidence rates were measured 6 months later. The study was voluntary, anonymous, and included HIV pre- and post-test counseling, HIV and syphilis serology, and a self-administered fact sheet. A total of 106 men and 393 women were recruited. The median age was 22 years, and the mean 23.4 years. Educational levels were moderate; 41.9% had some secondary school and 23.6% had completed secondary school. HIV prevalence was 2.4% overall but differed by sex; among men it was 7/106, 6.6%, among women 5/393, 1.3%, OR = 5.49 (95% CI = 1.52, 20.39). Low educational levels were associated with HIV infection, OR = 7.2 (95% CI = 2.2, 23.4). Syphilis prevalence was 3.8%. Follow-up at 6 months was successful for 420/499 subjects, 84.2%, and varied by sex: 73/106 men, 68.9%, returned while 347/393 women, 88.3%, did so, RR = 1.21 (95% CI = 1.07, 1.37). There were 5 incident HIV-1 infections, a rate of 2.1/100 person years. The HIV seroconversion rate differed by sex, but not significantly; it was 4.1/100 person years for men and 1.5/100 person years for women. This population is largely young, female, and at considerable HIV risk. If follow-up could be improved, factory workers in northern Thailand could be an appropriate population in which to mount HIV preventive efficacy studies, including vaccine trials.
authors.affiliation: Royal Thai Ministry of Public Health Thailand.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Natpratan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nantakwang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beyrer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kunawararak
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gunhom
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Celentano
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Khamboonruang
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011157:Population Dynamics; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines