title: Prevalence and risk factors for skin diseases among antiretroviral-naïve HIV-infected pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reduced cell-mediated immunity associated with pregnancy may cause a flaring or exacerbation of some skin conditions. Little is known about the magnitude of and risk factors for skin diseases among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected antiretroviral therapy-naïve pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of 1078 HIV-infected antiretroviral therapy-naïve pregnant women was conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Skin diagnoses were mainly clinical. Log-binomial regression models were used to explore factors associated with the outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 84% of the women were in World Health Organization (WHO) HIV stage I. Median CD4(+) count was 405 × 10(6)  cells/l. The prevalence of any skin disease was 18%. Fungal infections (11%), genital ulcers (7%), and viral infections (5%) were the most common skin conditions. Skin infections were 2.64 times more common in HIV stage III (95% CI 1.51-4.62) compared to stage I. Fungal infections were 1.77 times common among single, divorced, and widowed women than among married women (95% CI 1.16-2.69), 2.8 times common among women in HIV stage III (95% CI 1.18-6.64) compared to stage I. Genital ulcers were significantly more common among women whose source of income was their own compared with those who got full support from partners, and among WHO HIV stage III disease compared to stage I.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The burden of skin diseases was relatively low. Advanced HIV stage was associated with a range of skin conditions. CD4(+) cell count was not related to skin infection prevalence.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors: Grace A
authors: GA
authors: Shayo
authors: Candida
authors: C
authors: Moshiro
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Spiegelman
authors: Ferdinand M
authors: FM
authors: Mugusi
authors: Guerino
authors: G
authors: Chalamilla
authors: Gernard
authors: G
authors: Msamanga
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Hawkins
authors: Wafaie
authors: W
authors: Fawzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D013636:Tanzania; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents