title: HIV prevalence and risk in long-distance truck drivers in South Africa: a national cross-sectional survey.
abstract: We estimated the prevalence of HIV and assessed correlates of HIV infection in long-distance truck drivers in South Africa. Between October 2003 and July 2004, 1900 long-distance truck drivers aged ≥18 years consented to interview and for testing for HIV. Participants were selected from a 10% stratified random sample of registered truck depots. A proximate-determinants framework was used to assess the hierarchical relationship between risk factors and HIV infection using logistic regression. HIV prevalence was 26% (95% confidence interval 24% to 28%). In multivariate analyses, HIV infection was associated with spending 2-4 weeks on the road (adjusted odds ratio 1.4; 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 1.9). There was modest evidence of a dose-response relationship between time on the road and HIV risk. Mobility increased risk by creating conditions for unsafe sex and reducing access to health services. Targeted HIV interventions for long-distance truck drivers are needed.
authors.affiliation: Wits Reproductive Health & HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Sinead
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delany-Moretlwe
authors.forename: Braimoh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kinross
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oliff
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chersich
authors.forename: Immo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kleinschmidt
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: AIDS; Africa; HIV; epidemiology; high-risk behavior; human immunodeficiency virus; location; men; truck drivers; viral disease