Symptoms and findings related to HIV in women in rural Gutu District, Zimbabwe, 1992 to 1993.
OBJECTIVE
To relate self-reported morbidity and clinical findings to HIV-status in rural women in Zimbabwe.


METHODS
A cross sectional study.


METHODS
12 randomly selected villages in rural Gutu District, Zimbabwe.


METHODS
In 1992 to 1993 all women of fertile age (15 to 44 years) in the selected villages were interviewed and examined (n = 1,213). Retrospectively, HIV status was assessed anonymously from frozen blood samples.


METHODS
Self-reported morbidity, body mass index (BMI), arm circumference, palpable lymphnodes, prevalence of syphilis, haemoglobin, HIV status.


RESULTS
Overall HIV prevalence was 22%. Mean haemoglobin (Hb) was significantly lower (p < 0.005) and anaemia was significantly more common (p < 0.001) among HIV positive women. Syphilis prevalence was 2.2%, a positive syphilis test increased the risk of being HIV positive three-fold. Persistent cough was significantly more common in HIV positives (OR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.4-6.2). Palpable lymphnodes was the most common clinical finding and generalised lymph adenopathy had a positive predictive value of 67% for HIV. Self-reported morbidity was low and no increased pregnancy loss was reported related to HIV.


CONCLUSIONS
The low morbidity found in 1992 to 1993, in spite of the high prevalence, indicates a fairly short duration of the HIV infection and would also have contributed to the late awareness of the problem.
Nilses
C
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sundsvall Central Hospital, Mid Sweden Research and Development Center, Sundsvall, Sweden. Carin.Nilses@lvn.se
Nystrom
L
L
Munjanja
S P
SP
Lindmark
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology