Determinants and prevalence of HIV infection in pregnant Peruvian women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine age-specific seroprevalence, risk factors, and risk markers for heterosexually-acquired HIV infection among pregnant women.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of 12436 consecutive pregnant women in Lima, Peru in 1996-1997.


METHODS
Standardized interviews, serologic tests for HIV and syphilis, bivariate and multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
HIV seropositivity was confirmed in 58 women (0.5%). Only 22.6% were married, and only 12% of HIV infected women reported >or=2 sex partners ever. In multivariate analyses HIV infection was associated with: short duration of current relationship; two risk behaviors of women themselves (early onset of sexual activity and number of past sexual relationships); women's perceptions of two risk behaviors of partners (partner is a 'womanizer,' and partner uses illegal drugs); inadequate prenatal care; and four additional risk factors or markers (history of sexually transmitted disease, tuberculosis, or abortion in the women; and diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in a partner).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV infection was related both to women's own risk behaviors and to the perceived risk behaviors of their sexual partners. Underlying societal factors related to heterosexual HIV infection, including deferral of marriage, warrant further study.
Alarcon
Jorge O
JO
Tropical Medicine Institute of Universidad Nacional Mayor De San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
Johnson
Kay M
KM
Courtois
Barry
B
Rodriguez
Carlos
C
Sanchez
Jorge
J
Watts
Douglas M
DM
Holmes
King K
KK
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous