Pre-marital HIV testing in couples from faith-based organisations: experience in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among prospective couples referred from Faith-Based Organisations in Port Harcourt, Nigeria for pre-marital HIV screening. The study sought to establish the sero-prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in this peculiar study group.


METHODS
A total of 84 healthy heterosexual couples who required pre-marital HIV screening were tested between January 2000 and December 2003 using a Double ELISA confirmatory test of Immunocomb and Genscreen HIV I&II Kits.


RESULTS
Amongst the 168 individuals tested, 35 (20.8%) were found positive. Seroprevalence was significantly higher among females 23 (27.4%) compared to males 12 (14.3%). Infection rate was highest in the 25-29 years group (29.7%, n=22) and lowest in those of 35-39 years (6.1 %, n=2), though this difference was not statistically significant (p-value=0.058). Infection rate was significantly higher among females (p-value=0.036); among prospective couples from Orthodox churches (p-value=0.021); couples with prolonged courtship (>6 months) (p-value=0.0001); couples with history of premarital sex (p-value=0.0001); and couples with history of cohabitation (p-value=0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings prompt a wake-up call for faith-based organizations (FBOs) to urgently initiate or be more receptive of measures that emphasize behavioural and social changes amongst members. Government and non-governmental organizations should organise capacity building training for religious based organizations to enable them cope with the challenges of HIV/AIDS. The outcomes of this study further underscores the value of voluntary counselling and confidential HIV testing and especially pre- and post-test counselling as the basis of pre-marital HIV testing.
Akani
C I
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Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Erhabor
O
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Babatunde
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D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011336:Probability; D012067:Religion; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution