title: Low seroprevalence of HIV and syphilis in pregnant women in refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border.
abstract: Refugee and migrant populations are considered to be at high risk from sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV. Cross-sectional surveys for syphilis and HIV were conducted in antenatal clinics (ANCs) on the Thai-Burmese border. In Mae La refugee camp, the seroprevalence of HIV and syphilis were 0.2% (one of 500) (95% CI 0-1.1) and 0% (0 of 404) (95% CI 0-0.9) in 1997; and 0.4% (two of 500) (95% CI 0.1-1.4) and 0.4% (three of 741) (95% CI 0.1-1.2) in 2005, respectively; syphilis seroprevalence in migrant women in 2005 was 0 (0 of 234) (95% CI 0-1.6). The seroprevalence was lower than that reported from surrounding ANCs for Thai or Burmese women. Focus group discussions with HIV-negative and -positive pregnant refugee women established that aspects of Karen culture and isolation (geographical and political) had a significant protective role from HIV and STI. This survey has resulted in programmatic changes in services to pregnant women in this area.
authors.affiliation: Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Plewes
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kajeechewa
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Thwin
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Carrara
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nosten
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McGready
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D002052:Myanmar / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012036:Refugees; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D015483:HIV Antibodies