title: HIV in the workplace in Botswana: incidence, prevalence, and disease severity.
abstract: Few detailed epidemiologic data exist regarding the impact of HIV infection on the workplace in the developing world. In addition, most HIV surveys examine only prevalence, without data on incidence or disease severity. In June 2003, we conducted a voluntary anonymous HIV serosurvey among employees of the Debswana Mining Company, the largest nongovernmental employer in Botswana. Among the 3558 participants, annual HIV incidence was estimated to be 3.4%, and HIV prevalence was 23.8%. HIV-infected participants had a median CD4(+) lymphocyte count of 427 cells/mm(3) (interquartile range 269-642), with 13.3% of samples <200 cells/mm(3). The high incidence and prevalence of HIV, and the proportion of workers with <200 CD4(+) lymphocytes/mm(3), demonstrate the impact of HIV infection in this workplace and the potential negative impact on productivity. These results highlight the need for routine HIV testing and access to antiretro-viral treatment for workers in countries such as Botswana.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA. beth_riviello@post.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Elisabeth D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Riviello
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Sterling
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: Tsetsele
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fantan
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Makhema
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001902:Botswana / Q000453:epidemiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D017132:Workplace