The trend of HIV infection in Kano, Nigeria--a seven-year study of adult attendees of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
BACKGROUND
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a huge concern with increasing epidemic proportions The consequences are devastating in developing countries particularly in large areas of southeast Asia and sub Saharan Africa including decrease in life-expectancy, huge loss of manpower and a heavy economic and social burden. Sub-Saharan Africa has been hit harder by HIV/AIDS pandemic than any other region of the world At the end of 2006, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimated that, globally 39.5 million people were living with HIV/AIDS, out of which 24.7 million were in sub-Saharan Africa. To determine the annual trend of HIV infection in Kano as well as the seroprevalence rates over the years.


METHODS
This retrospective study includes all adults that are 15years and above, who are also AKTH attendees and. patients referred from other hospitals in Kano, who, based on clinical suspicion, were sent to the serology laboratory of the hospital for HIV screening and confirmation between January, 1997 and December, 2003. It however, excludes all pediatrics, antenatal care clinic attendees and all blood donors screened for HIV antibodies within the period. These have been collated under various risk groups elsewhere.


RESULTS
Of 9241 subjects tested, 3217 (34.8%) were confirmed seropositive for HIV antibodies consisting of 1908 (36.7%) and 1441 (35.7%) males and females respectively Analysis of results on yearly basis shows prevalence rates of 37.1% in 1997, 40% in 1998 and 47.9% in 1999. However, the HIV seroprevalence rates declined to 22.6% among these subjects in 2000 before rising to the peak (48.8%) in 2002 from 30% seroprevalence of the previous year, 2001. The prevalence rate for 2003 was 32.1%. effective control strategies aimed at curbing the spread of HIV infection.
Nwokedi
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Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. drnworkedi@yahoo.com
Azeez-Akande
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013997:Time Factors