Who is at high risk? A comparison of the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus in pregnant women and a high risk group.
To compare the seroprevalence of HIV in Jamaican pregnant women with that in substance abusers, two groups of antenatal patients were studied, one (A) attending a public hospital clinic and the other (B) attending private clinics. The HIV seroprevalence in the antenatal patients was compared with that in the substance abusers, group C, in 1996 and five years later in 2001. HIV antibody was determined by enzyme immunoassay. The HIV seroprevalence in group A more than doubled (1.6%-3.8%) in five-years, 1996-2001. There were no seropositives in group B. In group C, the seroprevalence rose from 2.08% in 1996 to 5.76% in 2001. There was indication that group A might no longer be considered "low risk", as there was no significant difference from group C in HIV seroprevalence in 1996 and 2001. The trend seen in this study is worthy of further investigation.
Wynter
S H
SH
Departments of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Child Health, Microbiology, Advanced Training and Research in Fertility Management Unit and Community Health and Psychiatry, University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica, WI.
Rattray
C
C
Frederick
J
J
Thesiger
C
C
Wynter
H H
HH
Lindo
J
J
McGilchrist
A
A
King
S D
SD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
D015483:HIV Antibodies