Document 2543
 DOCN  M94A2543
 TI    Assessing trends of the HIV epidemic in western Uganda.
 DT    9412
 AU    Weis P; Masheisha C; Sahlmuller G; Asiimwe-Okiror; Korte R; von
       Sonnenburg F; MOH, Uganda.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):280 (abstract no. PC0041). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370032
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To monitor HIV and syphilis prevalence and to evaluate the
       potential of syphilis prevalence levels as predictors of the HIV/AIDS
       epidemic. METHODS: From 1991-1993, anonymous unlinked testing of HIV and
       syphilis was performed on 5,550 pregnant women attending ANC in urban,
       semi-urban and rural sentinel sites of Kabarole and Bundibugyo district.
       HIV-serostatus was determined by HIV1/2 ELISA, confirmed by a second
       ELISA and, where necessary, by WB. Syphilis serostatus was measured by
       TPHA and VDRL. In addition, a population based study (698 households,
       1,813 persons) was conducted in the catchment area of one rural sentinel
       site. RESULTS: In Kabarole, HIV prevalence was 20-25% in urban, 12-14%
       in semi-urban and 6-9% in rural areas. In Bundibugyo, HIV prevalence was
       3-4%. No significant changes in HIV prevalence occurred during the
       observation period. Syphilis prevalence levels correlated with HIV
       prevalence. Compared to the corresponding sentinel surveillance, the
       population based study revealed a significantly lower age adjusted HIV
       seroprevalence (9% vs 4%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that
       the HIV epidemic is already long lasting in the study area, yielding a
       stabilized HIV prevalence. Sentinel surveillance in pregnant women is
       appropriate for assessing trends of HIV prevalence, however, it may
       overestimate the absolute value of the HIV prevalence, which is crucial
       for estimating the expected AIDS case load. Syphilis prevalence levels
       among pregnant women may be used to identify high risk areas of HIV
       transmission.
 DE    AIDS Serodiagnosis  Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay  Female  Human
       HIV Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY  HIV Seroprevalence  Pregnancy  Pregnancy
       Complications, Infectious/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Syphilis/EPIDEMIOLOGY
       Uganda/EPIDEMIOLOGY  MEETING ABSTRACT

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