HIV infection among STD patients--Kigali, Rwanda, 1988 to 1991

Sexual Behavior and Risk Practices of HIV Positive and HIV Negative Rwandan Women

It is not well understood how infection with HIV and prior experience of sexual violence affects sexual behavior in African women. We describe factors influencing current sexual practices of Rwandan women living with or without HIV/AIDS. By design, 75 % of participants were HIV positive and ~50 % reported having experienced genocidal rape. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fit to describe demographic and clinical characteristics that influenced sexual behavior in the previous 6 months, condom use, history of transactional sex, and prior infection with a non-HIV sexually transmitted disease. Respondents' age, where they lived, whether or not they lived with a husband or partner, experience of sexual trauma, CD4 count, CES-D and PTSD scores were strongly associated with risky sexual behavior and infection with non-HIV STI. HIV positive women with a history of sexual violence in the contexts of war and conflict may be susceptible to some high-risk sexual behaviors.

Risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases and casual sex among Chinese patients attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in Hong Kong

BACKGROUND

The risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and having casual sex among the Chinese people are unknown.

GOAL

The goal of the study was to estimate the prevalence of STDs and to develop a profile of risk behavior among patients attending STD clinics in Hong Kong.

STUDY DESIGN

In a clinic-based, cross-sectional study, 448 patients attending two government STD clinics were randomly sampled and interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

The prevalence of STDs was 51% (70% of men and 35% of women). Attendees who had STDs diagnosed were more likely to be male, never married, and smokers and alcohol users (ever) and to have had casual sex or sex during travel with someone not their usual partner. Those who did not always use condoms were more likely to be male and never married. Having had casual sex was reported by 63% of the respondents. Those who reported having had casual sexual encounters were more likely to have the following characteristics: male; never married; no religious belief; ever smoker and alcohol user; current STD; had sex during travel; history of STD; inconsistent condom user; and perception of being at low risk for STD. After adjustment, only male gender was associated with casual sexual encounters.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicated several risk factors among Chinese patients for the acquisition of STDs, for not using condoms, and for having casual sex. This information is useful in strengthening and evaluating currently available STD prevention and control strategies for the Chinese population in Hong Kong and elsewhere.

HIV trends in African blood donors

OBJECTIVES

To assess trends over the last 12 years in HIV-1/HIV-2 seroprevalence among blood donors in African nations and to correlate trends with national AIDS policies, with the purpose of preventing future cases.

METHODS

Using collated data of African seroepidemiologic studies published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, we established a best-fit linear trend, determined by regression analysis of HIV-1 and HIV-2 seroprevalence values for African blood donors against time, with adjustments for sample size of reported studies.

RESULTS

Among 38 nations with sufficient data, 11 showed increases in HIV-1 seroprevalence, six showed decreases and 21 showed no significant changes. Decreases were seen primarily in nations with a high HIV-1 seroprevalence before 1989 (P<0.001, Chi-square). HIV-2 seroprevalence decreased in all nations where it was tested except Nigeria. There was a moderate correlation between decreases in HIV-1 and HIV-2 seroprevalence values (correlation coefficient = 0.39). No significant correlations between HIV policies and subsequent HIV-1 seroprevalence trends among blood donors and HIV patients were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

A great disparity exists in trends in HIV-1 seroprevalence among African nations. HIV-2 seroprevalence is consistently decreasing throughout most of West Africa, the exception being Nigeria. The absence of any significant correlation between HIV seroprevalence trends and healthcare policies suggests that other factors are more influential than national policy in determining such trends and, by extrapolation, trends in AIDS prevalence.