title: Decreases in human immunodeficiency virus infection rates in Kombolcha, Ethiopia: a 10-year data review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is one of the most serious public health and development challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. A particular challenge for prevention strategies has been the emergence of hotspot areas. Therefore, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome programs should not be based on national level statistics, but need to be more focused geographically. Kombolcha is one of the high spot areas with different projects and development corridors. Hence, the aim of this study is to assess the trend of HIV infection rates among patients who visited Africa Service Committee clinic from 2005 to 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to January 30, 2016. All records of new patients enrolled from February 8, 2005 to December 31, 2014 were reviewed. Data on sociodemographic information, risky sexual behavior, and HIV test result were collected from each study participant using data collection format. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors of HIV infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall HIV infection was 10.8% (2,233/20,674). The rate of infection varied from 13.3% in 2005 to 4.5% in 2014, and its trend had significantly declined from 2008 to 2014. Urban residence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.53; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-5.25), patients who ever had intercourse with penetration (AOR: 5.62; 95% CI: 1.11-28.57), and those who had marriage experience (AOR: 11.65; 95% CI: 4.2-32.3) were more infected with HIV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The trend of HIV infection significantly reduced in the last 10 years in Kombolcha area. However, the HIV infection still remains high (4.5%) that needs intervention of those who had marriage experience, risky sexual behavior, and urban dwellers.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Capacity Building Core Process, Bahir Dar Regional Health Research Laboratory Center, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Melashu Balew
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Shiferaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Gebremedhin Berhe
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Gebregergs
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Bahir Dar Regional Health Research Laboratory Center, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Mulusew Alemneh
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sinishaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory, Africa Service Committee Clinic, Kombolcha, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Yohannes Amede
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Yesuf
keywords: Ethiopia; HIV; Kombolcha; infection