HIV incidence rates and risk factors for urban women in Zambia: preparing for a microbicide clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
A preparedness study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of sites and populations following the same study procedures intended for a larger scale microbicide efficacy trial. In the process the study evaluated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence, prevalence, and risk profiles for HIV-acquisition among young women in urban Zambia.


METHODS
Women aged 16 to 49 years were screened for participation in the study that involved HIV/sexually transmitted infection testing and the assessment of sexual behavioral characteristics. Two hundred thirty-nine eligible women were enrolled and followed up for 12 months.


RESULTS
Baseline HIV prevalence at screening was 38.7% (95% CI: 34.2%-43.3%). The highest age-specific prevalence of HIV was 54.1% (95% CI: 46.3%-61.8%) seen in women aged 26 to 34 years. HIV incidence was 2.6% per 100 woman years. Pregnancy rates were high at 17.4 per 100 woman years (95% CI: 12.2-24.1).


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that our general population sample, characterized by high HIV prevalence and ongoing incidence rates despite receiving regular risk reduction counseling and free condoms qualifies for future microbicide studies.A microbicide preparedness study conducted in Lusaka, Zambia found high HIV prevalence and appreciable HIV incidence in a population of women in an urban setting.
Kapina
Muzala
M
Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Reid
Cheri
C
Roman
Karisse
K
Cyrus-Cameron
Elena
E
Kwiecien
Antonia
A
Weiss
Stephen
S
Vermund
Sten H
SH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014505:Urban Population; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents