title: Prevalence of HIV and syphilis in pregnant women in Leon, Nicaragua.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV and syphilis and to identify risk factors among pregnant women visiting antenatal clinics in León, Nicaragua. During February to April 2004, blood samples from pregnant women were collected after written consent had been obtained. The samples were tested for antibodies against HIV and Treponema pallidum. A questionnaire was also completed. In total, 1,059 women were included. Antibodies against HIV were not detected in any of the women, whereas antibodies against T. pallidum were detected in 16 (1.5%). Risk factors for syphilis included illiteracy, lower education, and two or more pregnancies. HIV does not seem to be highly prevalent among pregnant women in León (prevalence, 0%; 95% CI, 0.0-0.3). The higher proportion of women infected with syphilis than found in earlier studies suggests that sexually transmitted diseases are circulating in the general population and highlights the increasing importance of HIV prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Carlijn E L
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: Martiene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riedijk
authors.forename: Armando J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Matute
authors.forename: Eelko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hak
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Rosa E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Maria D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Benavides
authors.forename: Anton M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Loon
authors.forename: Ilja M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Hoepelman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009527:Nicaragua / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*