title: Predictors of HIV Serodiscordance among Couples in Southwestern Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With transmission of HIV occurring mainly through heterosexual contact, it is paramount to identify serodiscordant couples and implement preventive strategies that will protect the negative partner. The burden of serodiscordance and its predictors in Ethiopia is not clearly understood due to the dearth of data.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and predictors of HIV serodiscordance among couples tested in Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH) Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) center.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study employed a case-control study design conducted at VCT center of JUSH in all registered serodiscordant couples and seroconcordant couples that were selected from the registered clients in the period from 2003 to 2010. A pretested structured questionnaire was used for data collection using medical chart abstraction. Data were entered, cleaned, and coded using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of serodiscordance in the study population was found to be 8.4%. Male and female discordants accounted for 5.8% (137) and 2.6% (62), respectively. Rare use of condom (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 7.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.59-32.54) and active tuberculosis (TB) at enrollment (AOR= 17.7; 95% CI = 2.3-139.2) were significantly found to be the predictors of serodiscordance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of serodiscordance in the study area was found to be low, but it contributes to a clinically significant population that mandates implementation of preventive strategy. Sero-positive individuals who use condoms rarely should be encouraged to have their partners tested, and the association between active TB and serodiscordance underscores the need for further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Jimma University, College of Public Health and Medical Science, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Ermias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Habte
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Jimma University, College of Public Health and Medical Science, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Alemeshet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yami
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jimma University, College of Public Health and Medical Science, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Fissahye
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alemseged
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Jimma University, College of Public Health and Medical Science, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Yishak
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abdissa
authors.affiliation: Department of General Public Health, Jimma University, College of Public Health and Medical Science, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Kebede
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deribe
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Memiah
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jimma University, College of Public Health and Medical Science, Ethiopia sibhatu2005@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sibhatu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biadgilign
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV; JUSH; VCT; serodiscordance