title: High HIV Prevalence among Asylum Seekers Who Gave Birth in the Netherlands: A Nationwide Study Based on Antenatal HIV Tests.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Asylum seekers are considered to be a particularly vulnerable group with respect to HIV. Data on the HIV prevalence among asylum seekers, however, are scarce. The aim of this study is to map the HIV prevalence among asylum seekers who gave birth in The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a nationwide electronic medical records database from the community health services for asylum seekers (MOA). The study population consisted of 4,854 women and girls who delivered in asylum reception between 2000 and 2008. A unique electronic health data base was used and case allocation was based on ICPC-codes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of women and girls that was HIV positive during their last pregnancy was 80, of which 79 originated from sub-Saharan Africa. The prevalence for women from this region of origin (3.4%) was high compared to women from all other regions of origin (0.04%; OR = 90.2; 95%CI 12.5-648.8). The highest HIV prevalence rates were found for women from Rwanda (17.0%) and Cameroon (13.2%). HIV prevalence rates were higher among women who arrived in reception without partner (OR = 1.82; 95%CI 0.75-4.44) and unaccompanied minors (OR = 2.59; 95%CI 0.79-8.49), compared to women who arrived in reception with partner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that, among asylum-seeking women from sub-Saharan Africa giving birth in The Netherlands, the HIV prevalence is high compared to the host population. For women from other regions of origin, the prevalence is at the same level as in the host population. The high HIV prevalence underlines the importance of preventive interventions and voluntary HIV testing for sub-Saharan African asylum seekers as from shortly after arrival.
authors: Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Netherlands Association for Community Health Services, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Goosen
authors: Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Service, Geleen, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Christian J P A
authors: CJ
authors: Hoebe
authors: Netherlands Association for Community Health Services, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Quita
authors: Q
authors: Waldhober
authors: Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Anton E
authors: AE
authors: Kunst
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000208:ethnology; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016208:Databases, Factual; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*