Document 0288
 DOCN  M95B0288
 TI    Practising obstetrics and gynaecology in areas with a high prevalence of
       HIV infection.
 DT    9511
 AU    Verkuyl DA
 SO    Lancet. 1995 Jul 29;346(8970):293-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/95356634
 AB    What is it like to practise obstetrics and gynaecology in a country with
       a high prevalence of HIV infection? My experience relates especially to
       Zimbabwe, but the same factors apply equally well to Zambia, Zaire,
       Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique. Within a population of
       11 million in Zimbabwe, at least 1 million are HIV positive according to
       the official figures. AIDS often means home-based care; the nearest
       clinic or hospital, which has very little to offer, may be 3 hours away
       by wheelbarrow. Many patients who die with chronic diarrhoea lack a
       piped water supply nearby, an indoor toilet, or even a waterproof sheet.
       Every year in Zimbabwe there are 120,000 confinements of HIV-positive
       women compared with 7000 HIV-positive pregnancies in the USA.
       Transmission of the virus in Africa is mainly heterosexual and vertical,
       although blood transfusion still plays a part. Intravenous drug use is
       not a problem but alcohol is, by way of promoting risky behaviour. A
       secondary epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) (also among HIV-negative
       persons) adds to the difficulties in sub-Saharan Africa.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Contact Tracing  Contraception  Family Planning
       Female  *Gynecology  Human  HIV Antibodies/BLOOD  HIV
       Infections/PREVENTION & CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  *HIV Seroprevalence  HIV-1
       *Obstetrics  Zimbabwe/EPIDEMIOLOGY  JOURNAL ARTICLE

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