Document 0688
 DOCN  M94A0688
 TI    Epidemiological aspects of HIV infection in Australian women.
 DT    9412
 AU    Thackway SV; Furner V; Kaldor J; National Centre in HIV Epidemiology &
       Clinical Research,; Darlinghurst.
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1993 Oct 28-30;5:38 (abstract no. TE1).
       Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM5/94348967
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of women with HIV-I infection
       in Australia. METHOD: The National Registry of Women with HIV Infection
       was established by merging the National HIV, AIDS, and Zidovudine
       Registries, using name codes and dates of birth. RESULTS: By March 1993
       721 adult adolescent women had been reported as diagnosed with HIV
       infection, representing 4% of reported diagnoses in Australia. NSW
       reported 62% of female HIV diagnoses and Victoria 17%, similar to the
       pattern of male diagnoses. Data were missing on 41% of exposure
       categories and 19% of dates of birth for women compared to 31% and 14%
       for men, respectively. Based on available exposure data, 62 women (9%)
       reported medically acquired HIV infection (MAHI), 116 (16%) injecting
       drug use, and 230 (32%) heterosexual contact only, whereas 280 men (2%)
       reported MAHI, 365 (3%) injecting drug use and 370 (3%) heterosexual
       contact only. Sexual partners' source of HIV infection was not available
       in over 80% of all cases attributed to heterosexual contact, for both
       women and men. Forty percent of women were first diagnosed between the
       ages 20 and 29 and 21% between 30 to 39 compared to 33% and 32% of men,
       respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Proportionally more women were diagnosed in
       the 20-29 age group than men and a higher proportion of women reported
       heterosexual transmission and injecting drug use than men. Collection of
       missing information and resolution of duplicate reporting will allow the
       Registry to provide an increasingly accurate profile of HIV infection
       among women in Australia.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Australia/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Cross-Sectional Studies
       Female  Human  HIV Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Incidence
       Registries/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Risk Factors  MEETING ABSTRACT

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