Document 2550
 DOCN  M94A2550
 TI    Epidemiology of HIV-1 infection in El Salvador.
 DT    9412
 AU    Schoenenberg M; Wollants E; Bonilla G; Shor-Posner G; Baum MK; Central
       Military Hospital El Salvador.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):279 (abstract no. PC0038). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370025
 AB    OBJECTIVE: In light of the progressive increase in the number of HIV-1
       infected cases in El Salvador over the last 4 years, the major route of
       HIV transmission and risk factors for HIV-1 infection were determined.
       METHODS: HIV-1 seropositive cases reported to the Department of Health,
       Office of Epidemiology, El Salvador, between 1990-1993, were documented.
       Serostatus was determined by ELISA and confirmed by Western Blot. Risk
       factors status was obtained by standardized questionnaires. RESULTS:
       Over the 4 year period, 993 HIV-1 infected individuals were documented:
       96 were detected in 1990, 280 in 1991, 286 in 1992 and 331 in 1993.
       Among this population, 737 were men, 239 women (sex ratio 3.1:1
       male-female) and 17 were children. Most of the infected population
       ranged in age between 15-39 years (78%) and generally resided in urban
       areas (89%). Detailed information available from 774 cases, indicated
       that the principal route of transmission was through sexual contact
       (95%), 80% heterosexual, 11% homosexual and 5% bisexual; 2% were
       infected through blood transfusion; 1% through intravenous drug use and
       an additional 2% were pediatric cases infected through perinatal
       transmission. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Sexual contact, predominantly
       heterosexual, is the principal route of HIV transmission in El Salvador,
       emphasizing the need for preventive HIV/AIDS education programs aimed at
       the general population. While the number of people infected through
       blood transfusion is low, the necessity for maintaining blood donor
       surveillance is clearly indicated. The number of perinatal-infected
       cases, although small, indicates the need for seroprevalence screening
       among pregnant women.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Blood Transfusion/ADVERSE EFFECTS  Child  El
       Salvador/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Female  Human  HIV
       Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  *HIV-1  Male  Risk Factors  Sex
       Behavior  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).