Socio-economic and demographic factors associated with prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
BACKGROUND
HIV/AIDS epidemic has become generalised in low resource settings in sub-Saharan Africa where 90% of all maternal-foetal transmission of HIV infection occurs. Global effort to scale-up pMTCT is underway, however, mechanisms to maximise screening of HIV- 1 positive women for Nevirapine treatment and other interventions, are not clear.


OBJECTIVE
To identify socioeconomic and demographic characteristics associated with the prevalence of HIV- 1 infection among Tanzanian women.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Four antenatal clinics in Dar es Salaam.


RESULTS
HIV prevalence rate was 13.1 (95% confidence interval (CI): 12.7% - 13.5%) and it increased with increasing maternal age. Older age than 25, mid-arm circumference less than 25cm, geographic location, working in a public house, and partner's occupation were independently associated with higher prevalence of infection. Women in monogamous marriages were 77% less likely to be HIV infected compared to women with no regular partner. Similarly, women with more than five persons per household, and those who spent less on food had a significantly lower HIV prevalence.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV infection is sufficiently widespread among women in Dar es Salaam suggesting that screening based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics would miss a large proportion of the positives. There is need to increase facilities for counselling and testing using an opt-out approach for testing in all antenatal clinics in the city.
Msamanga
G
G
Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Fawzi
W
W
Hertzmark
E
E
McGrath
N
N
Kapiga
S
S
Kagoma
C
C
Spiegelman
D
D
Hunter
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology