title: Epidemiological profiles of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus infections in Malian women: Risk factors and relevance of disparities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the epidemiologic patterns and risk factors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Mali in order to develop prevention means for both diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two prospective studies were conducted in Bamako in 2009 among 1000 pregnant women (i.e., young women) who consulted six reference health centers, and in 2010, among 231 older women who attended general practice in two hospitals. Antibody tests and molecular analysis (performed only for HCV) were used to quantify the frequencies of both infections. The data were collected from patients recruited through a questionnaire. Transmission risk factors of both diseases were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCV seroprevalence was 0.2% for young and 6.5% for older women. HIV prevalence was similar in both populations (4.1% vs 6.1%). In older women, the analysis of risk factors highlighted an association between HCV infection and episodes of hospitalization (P < 0.01). The study did not show an association between HIV infection and the variables such as hospitalization, transfusion, tattoo, dental care, and endoscopy. A significant decrease of HIV seroprevalence was detected in young women who used condoms for contraception more than for other purposes (P < 0.01). By contrast, HIV seroprevalence was significantly increased in young women using condoms mainly to prevent sexual infections rather than for contraception (P < 0.01). No HCV/HIV coinfection was detected in our study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk factors and epidemiologic data of HIV and HCV as well as the absence of co-infection strongly suggest epidemiological disparities between these diseases.
authors.affiliation: Nouhoum Bouare, Andre Gothot, Sebastien Bontems, Dolores Vaira, Christiane Gerard, Department of Clinical Biology, Laboratory Hematology, Immuno-Hematology and AIDS Reference Laboratory B35, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nouhoum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bouare
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gothot
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delwaide
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bontems
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaira
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seidel
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerard
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerard
keywords: Bamako; Epidemiology; Hepatitis C virus; Human immunodeficiency virus; Mali; Risk factors; Women