Patterns of HIV and syphilis infection in Northern Thailand 1998-2001.
Northern Thailand has been the epicentre of a largely heterosexually transmitted HIV epidemic that has recently involved married women. In preparation for HIV-prevention trials, we investigated patterns of HIV and syphilis risk through annually measured HIV and syphilis prevalence among northern Thai, peri-urban, community-dwelling men (n=2564) and women (n=3907) aged 18-35 years between 1998 and 2001. Crude HIV and syphilis prevalence were 3.3% and 2.7% for men and 2.3% and 2.1% for women, respectively. In logistic regression models of HIV and syphilis, compared with married men/women, widowers and widows were at increased risk (odds ratio; 95% confidence interval) of syphilis (7.86; 1.56-39.6 and 3.3; 1.14-9.61, respectively) and HIV (12.68; 3.23-49.8 and 41.3; 24.3-70.3, respectively). The oldest women were at lower risk of HIV (0.43; 0.22-0.85). For men and women, those with syphilis were approximately three times more likely to have HIV. These unique population data illustrate evolving sex parity of HIV burden in northern Thailand.
Beyrer
Chris
C
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. cbeyrer@jhsph.edu
Kawichai
Surinda
S
Hyder
Joseph A
JA
Borwornsin
Sompoth
S
Srirak
Namtip
N
Natpratan
Chawalit
C
Celentano
David D
DD
Khamboonruang
Chirasak
C
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004243:Divorce; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014210:Treponema pallidum; D017805:Widowhood