title: HIV prevalence and associated risk factors among individuals aged 13-34 years in Rural Western Kenya.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate HIV prevalence and characterize risk factors among young adults in Asembo, rural western Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-based cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a demographic surveillance system, we selected a random sample of residents aged 13-34 years, who were contacted at home and invited to a nearby mobile study site. Consent procedures for non-emancipated minors required assent and parental consent. From October 2003 - April 2004, consenting participants were interviewed on risk behavior and tested for HIV and HSV-2. HIV voluntary counseling and testing was offered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2606 eligible residents, 1822 (70%) enrolled. Primary reasons for refusal included not wanting blood taken, not wanting to learn HIV status, and partner/parental objection. Females comprised 53% of 1762 participants providing blood. Adjusted HIV prevalence was 15.4% overall: 20.5% among females and 10.2% among males. HIV prevalence was highest in women aged 25-29 years (36.5%) and men aged 30-34 years (41.1%). HSV-2 prevalence was 40.0% overall: 53% among females, 25.8% among males. In multivariate models stratified by gender and marital status, HIV infection was strongly associated with age, higher number of sex partners, widowhood, and HSV-2 seropositivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asembo has extremely high HIV and HSV-2 prevalence, and probable high incidence, among young adults. Further research on circumstances around HIV acquisition in young women and novel prevention strategies (vaccines, microbicides, pre-exposure prophylaxis, HSV-2 prevention, etc.) are urgently needed.
authors: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America. pamornkul@iavi.org
authors: Pauli N
authors: PN
authors: Amornkul
authors: Hilde
authors: H
authors: Vandenhoudt
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Nasokho
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Odhiambo
authors: Dufton
authors: D
authors: Mwaengo
authors: Allen
authors: A
authors: Hightower
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Buvé
authors: Ambrose
authors: A
authors: Misore
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Vulule
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Vitek
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Glynn
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Greenberg
authors: Laurence
authors: L
authors: Slutsker
authors: Kevin M
authors: KM
authors: De Cock
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012747:Sexual Partners; D055815:Young Adult