title: HIV incidence among non-pregnant women living in selected rural, semi-rural and urban areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
abstract: The province of KwaZulu-Natal has the highest prevalence of HIV in South Africa, particularly among young women. In order to more closely examine the HIV prevalence and incidence in non-pregnant women from rural, semi-rural and urban areas, data from 5,753 women screened for enrolment into three HIV prevention studies were combined and analysed. The prevalence of HIV infection was 43% at screening. HIV incidence among the 2,523 enrolled HIV-negative women was determined every quarter, and sexual behaviour and socio-demographic data were collected as per respective protocols. During follow-up, 211 women seroconverted (6.6/100 women years). Multivariate analysis found that seroconversion rates were highest among women who were ≤24 years old, single and not cohabiting, and who had incident sexually transmitted infections. The epidemic in KwaZulu-Natal calls for targeted HIV prevention interventions among those at highest risk of acquiring or transmitting infection.
authors.affiliation: HIV Prevention Research Unit, Medical Research Council, 123 Jan Hofmeyr Road, Westville, Durban 3630, South Africa. gita.ramjee@mrc.ac.za
authors.forename: Gita
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramjee
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wand
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whitaker
authors.forename: Sheena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Padian
authors.forename: Cliff
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nunn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult