Stabilization of HIV infection rates in urban Burkina Faso, 1995-1999.
The objectives of this study were to monitor the trends of the HIV epidemic between 1995 and 1999 among pregnant women in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest town of Burkina Faso, and to discuss the possible effect of preventive interventions (condom availability) on sexual transmission of HIV in this context. Age-specific trends in HIV prevalence obtained from sentinel surveillance programme were analysed. Among antenatal clinic attendees, HIV prevalence was 7.5% (n=401) in 1995, 10% (n=200) in 1996, 7.6% (n=448) in 1997, 8.4% (n=642) in 1998 and 5.3% (n=716) in 1999 without demonstrated temporal trend (P=0.12). The average number of condoms available per person (aged 15-49 years) per year increased from 0.6 in 1992 to 5.7 in 1995 and 6.0 in 1999. Anonymous surveys are less subject to selection bias and suggest a stabilization of the HIV prevalence around 7.3% in Bobo-Dioulasso. Distribution of condoms could explain at least, partly, this stabilization of the HIV epidemic.
Meda
N
N
Centre MURAZ/OCCGE, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, West Africa. nmeda.muraz@fasonet.bf
Cartoux
M
M
Dabis
F
F
Bazié
B
B
Hetherington
J
J
Dahourou
H
H
Ouangré
A
A
Kpozehouen
A
A
Sombié
I
I
Tiendrebeogo
S
S
Yaro
S
S
Ky-Zerbo
O
O
Mandelbrot
L
L
Van de Perre
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance