Evidence of a substantial decline in prevalence of HIV-1 infection among pregnant women: data from 1995 to 2003 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence trends of HIV-1 infection among pregnant women seen between 1995 and 2003 at public antenatal clinics (ANC) in the city of Dar es Salaam.


METHODS
Cross-sectional studies among pregnant women at selected antenatal clinics who were offered HIV testing as part of research and service programmes to prevent vertical transmission of HIV infection and improve pregnancy outcomes.


METHODS
Consenting women gave blood for HIV antibody testing using a sequential ELISA protocol. Sociodemographic information was collected using structured interviews.


RESULTS
In total, 62% of women attending the antenatal clinics gave informed consent for HIV testing and 51,076 had final confirmed results available for this analysis. Women below 20 years of age had the lowest HIV seroprevalence. The HIV-1 prevalence declined from 14.2% in 1995 to 10.6% in 2003.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a definite substantial decline in prevalence of HIV-1 infection among pregnant women in Dar es Salaam following ongoing interventions, which have been carried out in Tanzania. There is a need to further strengthen these interventions.
Urassa
Willy
W
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. wurassa@muchs.ac.tz
Kaaya
Sylvia
S
Mwakagile
Davis
D
O'Brien
Megan
M
Antelman
Gretchen
G
Hunter
David
D
Fawzi
Wafaie
W
Msamanga
Gernard
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology