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Calvert C, Scott R, Palmer M, Dube A, Marston M, Wellings K, Slaymaker E. Rates of sexual partner acquisition from nationally representative surveys: variation between countries and by age, sex, wealth, partner and HIV status. Sex Health 2024; 21:NULL. [PMID: 38105237 DOI: 10.1071/sh23134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Knowing levels and determinants of partnership acquisition will help inform interventions that try to reduce transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. METHODS We used population-based, cross-sectional data from 47 Demographic and Health Surveys to calculate rates of partner acquisition among men and women (15-49years), and identified socio-demographic correlates for partner acquisition. Partner acquisition rates were estimated as the total number of acquisitions divided by the person-time in the period covered by the survey. For each survey and by sex, we estimated age-specific partner acquisition rates and used age-adjusted piecewise exponential survival models to explore whether there was any association between wealth, HIV status and partner status with partner acquisition rates. RESULTS Across countries, the median partner acquisition rates were 30/100 person-years for men (interquartile range 21-45) and 13/100 person-years for women (interquartile range 6-18). There were substantial variations in partner acquisition rates by age. Associations between wealth and partner acquisition rates varied across countries. People with a cohabiting partner were less likely to acquire a new one, and this effect was stronger for women than men and varied substantially between countries. Women living with HIV had higher partner acquisition rates than HIV-negative women but this association was less apparent for men. At a population level, partner acquisition rates were correlated with HIV incidence. CONCLUSIONS Partner acquisition rates are variable and are associated with important correlates of STIs and thus could be used to identify groups at high risk of STIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Calvert
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; and Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rachel Scott
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Melissa Palmer
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Albert Dube
- Malawi Epidemiological and Intervention Research Unit, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Milly Marston
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kaye Wellings
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Emma Slaymaker
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Skalland T, Ayles H, Bock P, Bwalya J, Shanaube K, Kasese N, Dupré M, Kosloff B, Floyd S, Wilson E, Moore A, Eshleman S, Fidler S, Hayes R, Donnell D. Community- and individual-level correlates of HIV incidence in HPTN 071 (PopART). J Int AIDS Soc 2023; 26:e26155. [PMID: 37643290 PMCID: PMC10465013 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Universal HIV testing and treatment aims to identify all people living with HIV and offer them treatment, decreasing the number of individuals with unsuppressed HIV and thus reducing HIV transmission. Longitudinal follow-up of individuals with and without HIV in a cluster-randomized trial of communities allowed for the examination of community- and individual-level measures of HIV risk and HIV incidence. METHODS HPTN 071 (PopART) was a three-arm cluster-randomized trial conducted between 2013 and 2018 that evaluated the use of two combination HIV prevention strategies implemented at the community level to reduce HIV incidence compared to the standard of care. The trial, conducted in 21 communities in Zambia and South Africa, measured HIV incidence over 36 months in a population cohort of ∼2000 randomly selected adults per community aged 18-44. Multilevel models were used to assess the association between HIV incidence and community- and individual-level socio-demographic and behavioural risk factors, as well as prevalence of detectable virus (PDV) defined as the estimated proportion of the community with unsuppressed viral load. RESULTS Overall HIV incidence was 1.49/100 person-years. Communities with less financial wealth and communities with more individuals reporting having sex partners outside of the community or two or more sexual partners had higher HIV incidence. PDV at 2 years of study was 6.8% and was strongly associated with HIV incidence: for every 50% relative reduction in community PDV, there was a 49% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 37%-58%, p < 0.001) relative decrease in HIV incidence. At the individual level; socio-economic status, AUDIT score, medical male circumcision and certain sexual behaviours were associated with HIV risk. CONCLUSIONS Using data from the PopART randomized trial, we found several associations of HIV incidence with community-level measures reflecting the sexual behaviour and socio-economic make-up of each community. We also found a strong association between community PDV and HIV incidence supporting the use of PDV as a tool for monitoring progress in controlling the epidemic. Lastly, we found significant individual-level factors of HIV risk that are generally consistent with previous HIV epidemiological research. These results have the potential to identify high high-incidence communities, inform structural-level interventions, and optimize individual-level interventions for HIV prevention. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01900977, HPTN 071 [PopArt].
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helen Ayles
- ZambartLusakaZambia
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | - Peter Bock
- Desmond Tutu TB CentreDepartment of Paediatrics and Child HealthFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesStellenbosch UniversityCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Justin Bwalya
- ZambartLusakaZambia
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | - Kwame Shanaube
- ZambartLusakaZambia
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | - Nkatya Kasese
- ZambartLusakaZambia
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | - Michelle Dupré
- Desmond Tutu TB CentreDepartment of Paediatrics and Child HealthFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesStellenbosch UniversityCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Barry Kosloff
- ZambartLusakaZambia
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | - Sian Floyd
- ZambartLusakaZambia
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | - Ethan Wilson
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer CenterSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | | | - Susan Eshleman
- Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Sarah Fidler
- UK Department of Infectious DiseaseFaculty of Medicine, Imperial College NIHR BRCLondonUK
| | - Richard Hayes
- ZambartLusakaZambia
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
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Ong KS, Laube C, Mohan D, Iverson L, Kaonga A, Chituwo O, Kamboyi R, Kabila M, Toledo C. Factors Beyond Compensation Associated with Uptake of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in Zambia. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:1836-1848. [PMID: 36357807 PMCID: PMC10979468 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03915-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) provides partial protection against female-to-male transmission of HIV. The Maximizing the Impact of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in Zambia (MAXZAM) project was a phased implementation of a demand generation strategy for VMMC through economic compensation. Previously published findings showed increased uptake of VMMC when compensation was provided. This paper is a follow-up evaluation of the MAXZAM project exploring additional factors associated with uptake of VMMC. Factors found associated include the outreach setting in which men were approached, number of information sources seen, heard, or read about VMMC, their self-reported HIV risk behaviors, their self-reported intention to go through the procedure, and their behavioral-psychographic profile. The findings highlight the importance of considering general (e.g., intensifying mass communications and targeting specific settings) and person-centered demand generation approaches (e.g., considering the client's psychographic profile and HIV risk level) to maximize effect on VMMC uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S Ong
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 Corporate Boulevard NE, Atlanta, GA, Mailstop US1-1, USA.
| | | | - Diwakar Mohan
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Omega Chituwo
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | | | - Carlos Toledo
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 Corporate Boulevard NE, Atlanta, GA, Mailstop US1-1, USA
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Zulaika G, Nyothach E, van Eijk AM, Obor D, Mason L, Wang D, Chen T, Kerubo E, Opollo V, Ngere I, Omondi Owino S, Oyaro B, ter Kuile FO, Kwaro D, Phillips-Howard P. Factors associated with the prevalence of HIV, HSV-2, pregnancy, and reported sexual activity among adolescent girls in rural western Kenya: A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data in a cluster randomized controlled trial. PLoS Med 2021; 18:e1003756. [PMID: 34582445 PMCID: PMC8478198 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescence is a sensitive time for girls' sexual and reproductive health (SRH), as biological changes occur concurrently with heightening pressures for sexual activity. In western Kenya, adolescent girls are vulnerable to acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HIV and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and to becoming pregnant prior to reaching adulthood. This study examines associations between individual, household, and partner-related risk factors and the prevalence of sex, adolescent pregnancy, HIV, and HSV-2. METHODS AND FINDINGS We report baseline findings among 4,138 girls attending secondary school who were enrolled between 2017 and 2018 in the Cups or Cash for Girls (CCG) cluster randomized controlled trial in Siaya County, rural western Kenya. Laboratory confirmed biomarkers and survey data were utilized to assess the effects of girls' individual, household, and partner characteristics on the main outcome measures (adolescent reported sex, prior pregnancy, HIV, and HSV-2) through generalized linear model (GLM) analysis. Complete data were available for 3,998 girls (97%) with median age 17.1 years (interquartile range [IQR] 16.3 to 18.0 years); 17.2% were HSV-2 seropositive (n = 686) and 1.7% tested positive for HIV (n = 66). Sexual activity was reported by 27.3% girls (n = 1,090), of whom 12.2% had been pregnant (n = 133). After adjustment, orphanhood (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 2.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18 to 6.71, p-value [p] = 0.020), low body mass index (BMI) (aRR 2.07; CI: 1.00 to 4.30, p = 0.051), and age (aRR 1.34, 1.18 to 1.53, p < 0.001) were all associated with HIV infection. Girls reporting light menstrual bleeding (aRR 2.42, 1.22 to 4.79, p = 0.012) for fewer than 3 days (aRR 2.81, 1.16 to 6.82, p = 0.023) were over twice as likely to have HIV. Early menarche (aRR 2.05, 1.33 to 3.17, p = 0.001) was associated with adolescent pregnancy and HSV-2-seropositive girls reported higher rates of pregnancy (aRR 1.62, CI: 1.16 to 2.27, p = 0.005). High BMI was associated with HSV-2 (aRR 1.24, 1.05 to 1.46, p = 0.010) and sexual activity (aRR 1.14, 1.02 to 1.28, p = 0.016). High levels of harassment were detected in the cohort (41.2%); being touched indecently conveyed the strongest association related to reported sexual activity (aRR 2.52, 2.26 to 2.81, p < 0.001). Study limitations include the cross-sectional design of the study, which informs on the SRH burdens found in this population but limits causal interpretation of associations, and the self-reported exposure ascertainment, which may have led to possible underreporting of risk factors, most notably prior sexual activity. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that adolescent girls attending school in Kenya face frequent harassment for sex and are at high risk of pregnancy and HSV-2, with girls experiencing early menarche particularly vulnerable. Targeted interventions, such as earlier sexual education programs, are warranted to address their vulnerability to SRH harms. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03051789.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garazi Zulaika
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (GZ); (PPH)
| | - Elizabeth Nyothach
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | - David Obor
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Linda Mason
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Duolao Wang
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Tao Chen
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Emily Kerubo
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Valarie Opollo
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | | | - Boaz Oyaro
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | - Daniel Kwaro
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
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Tekelehaimanot AN, Lemma TB, Gudina EK, Getnet M, Amdisa D, Dadi LS. Predictors of Under Nutrition and Its Implication toward HIV Continuum Care among Adult People Living with HIV in Jimma Zone Public Hospitals, Southwest Ethiopia: A Mixed Method Study. J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care 2021; 19:2325958220976254. [PMID: 33297825 PMCID: PMC7734494 DOI: 10.1177/2325958220976254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The study aimed to see predictors of undernourished and its implication towards HIV continuum care. Study Design: unmatched case-control study was conducted among 678 individuals in Jimma zone, southwest Ethiopia. Methods: Randomly selected data of 339 PLWHA who had poor nutritional outcomes (cases) and 339 without undernourished (controls) were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to identify forecasters of undernutrition. The quantitative results were supplemented from key informants who work closely on HIV care, then data were coded and analyzed thematically. Results: Rural residence (AOR:1.8; 95% CI: 1.2, 6.4), female (AOR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.1, 4.3), unstable livelihood (AOR: 5.1; 95% CI: 4.2, 19.6), low meal frequency (AOR: 6.6; 95% CI: 5.2, 21.1), less diversified foods (AOR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.2, 14.3), and advanced WHO clinical stage (AOR: 4.3; 95% CI: 3.6, 13.7) and were found to be independent predictors of undernourishment. No social support advanced clinical stage, and unstable livelihood adversely affect nutritional status of PLWHA from the qualitative data. Conclusions: The socio-cultural, economic, and health-system factors inhibit ideal patient nutritional status. Better tracking, enhanced livelihood and social support along with drug therapy, food aid needs to consider for PLWHA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Masrie Getnet
- Faculty of Public Health, 107839Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Demuma Amdisa
- Faculty of Public Health, 107839Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Lelisa Sena Dadi
- Faculty of Public Health, 107839Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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Wall KM, Nyombayire J, Parker R, Ingabire R, Bizimana J, Mukamuyango J, Mazzei A, Price MA, Unyuzimana MA, Tichacek A, Allen S, Karita E. Etiologies of genital inflammation and ulceration in symptomatic Rwandan men and women responding to radio promotions of free screening and treatment services. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250044. [PMID: 33878134 PMCID: PMC8057583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The longstanding inadequacies of syndromic management for genital ulceration and inflammation are well-described. The Rwanda National Guidelines for sexually transmitted infection (STI) syndromic management are not yet informed by the local prevalence and correlates of STI etiologies, a component World Health Organization guidelines stress as critical to optimize locally relevant algorithms. METHODS Radio announcements and pharmacists recruited symptomatic patients to seek free STI services in Kigali. Clients who sought services were asked to refer sexual partners and symptomatic friends. Demographic, behavioral risk factor, medical history, and symptom data were collected. Genital exams were performed by trained research nurses and physicians. We conducted phlebotomy for rapid HIV and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) serologies and vaginal pool swab for microscopy of wet preparation to diagnose Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), bacterial vaginosis (BV), and vaginal Candida albicans (VCA). GeneXpert testing for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) were conducted. Here we assess factors associated with diagnosis of NG and CT in men and women. We also explore factors associated with TV, BV and VCA in women. Finally, we describe genital ulcer and RPR results by HIV status, gender, and circumcision in men. RESULTS Among 974 men (with 1013 visits), 20% were positive for CT and 74% were positive for NG. Among 569 women (with 579 visits), 17% were positive for CT and 27% were positive for NG. In multivariate analyses, factors associated with CT in men included younger age, responding to radio advertisements, <17 days since suspected exposure, and not having dysuria. Factors associated with NG in men included not having higher education or full-time employment, <17 days since suspected exposure, not reporting a genital ulcer, and having urethral discharge on physical exam. Factors associated with CT in women included younger age and < = 10 days with symptoms. Factors associated with NG in women included younger age, lower education and lack of full-time employment, sometimes using condoms vs. never, using hormonal vs. non-hormonal contraception, not having genital ulcer or itching, having symptoms < = 10 days, HIV+ status, having BV, endocervical discharge noted on speculum exam, and negative vaginal wet mount for VCA. In multivariate analyses, only reporting >1 partner was associated with BV; being single and RPR+ was associated with TV; and having < = 1 partner in the last month, being pregnant, genital itching, discharge, and being HIV and RPR negative were associated with VCA. Genital ulcers and positive RPR were associated with being HIV+ and lack of circumcision among men. HIV+ women were more likely to be RPR+. In HIV+ men and women, ulcers were more likely to be herpetic rather than syphilitic compared with their HIV- counterparts. CONCLUSIONS Syndromic management guidelines in Rwanda can be improved with consideration of the prevalence of confirmed infections from this study of symptomatic men and women representative of those who would seek care at government health centers. Inclusion of demographic and risk factor measures shown to be predictive of STI and non-STI dysbioses may also increase diagnostic accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M. Wall
- Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Hubert Department of Global Health and Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Julien Nyombayire
- Project San Francisco, Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Rachel Parker
- Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Hubert Department of Global Health and Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Rosine Ingabire
- Project San Francisco, Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Jean Bizimana
- Project San Francisco, Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | - Amelia Mazzei
- Project San Francisco, Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Matt A. Price
- IAVI, NY, NY, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Amanda Tichacek
- Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Hubert Department of Global Health and Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Susan Allen
- Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Hubert Department of Global Health and Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Etienne Karita
- Project San Francisco, Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group, Kigali, Rwanda
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Silhol R, Baral S, Bowring AL, Mukandavire C, Njindam IM, Rao A, Schwartz S, Tamoufe U, Billong SC, Njoya O, Zoung-Kanyi Bissek AC, Calleja JMG, Vickerman P, Mishra S, Boily MC. Quantifying the Evolving Contribution of HIV Interventions and Key Populations to the HIV Epidemic in Yaoundé, Cameroon. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2021; 86:396-405. [PMID: 33234807 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Key populations (KP) including men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW), and their clients are disproportionately affected by HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. We estimated the evolving impact of past interventions and contribution of unmet HIV prevention/treatment needs of key populations and lower-risk groups to HIV transmission. SETTING Yaoundé, Cameroon. METHODS We parametrized and fitted a deterministic HIV transmission model to Yaoundé-specific demographic, behavioral, HIV, and intervention coverage data in a Bayesian framework. We estimated the fraction of incident HIV infections averted by condoms and antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the fraction of all infections over 10-year periods directly and indirectly attributable to sex within and between each risk group. RESULTS Condom use and ART together may have averted 43% (95% uncertainty interval: 31-54) of incident infections over 1980-2018 and 72% (66-79) over 2009-2018. Most onward transmissions over 2009-2018 stemmed from sex between lower-risk individuals [47% (32-61)], clients [37% (23-51)], and MSM [35% (20-54)] with all their partners. The contribution of commercial sex decreased from 25% (8-49) over 1989-1998 to 8% (3-22) over 2009-2018, due to higher intervention coverage among FSW. CONCLUSION Condom use and recent ART scale-up mitigated the HIV epidemic in Yaoundé and changed the contribution of different partnerships to onward transmission over time. Findings highlight the importance of prioritizing HIV prevention and treatment for MSM and clients of FSW whose unmet needs now contribute most to onward transmission, while maintaining services that successfully reduced transmissions in the context of commercial sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Silhol
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, HPTN Modelling Centre, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Baral
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Anna L Bowring
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Christinah Mukandavire
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Iliassou M Njindam
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Amrita Rao
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Sheree Schwartz
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ubald Tamoufe
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
- Metabiota, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Serge C Billong
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- National AIDS Control Committee (NACC/CNLS), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Oudou Njoya
- Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Anne-Cecile Zoung-Kanyi Bissek
- Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Division of Operations Research, Ministry of Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | - Peter Vickerman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Sharmistha Mishra
- St. Michael's Hospital, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; and
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Marie-Claude Boily
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, HPTN Modelling Centre, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Merrill RM, Williams EN, Fuhriman H. Risk Behaviors Correlate with Higher Prevalence of Papanicolaou, Human Papillomavirus, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Screening Among Women in the United States. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2020; 30:615-624. [PMID: 33085563 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: This study assesses whether women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behavior have higher Papanicolaou (Pap), human papillomavirus (HPV), and HIV testing, and whether the level of selected variables associated with HIV risk behavior correlate with greater testing. Association between HIV risk situations and HPV vaccination is also evaluated. Methods: A cross-sectional assessment was performed in women at age 18 years and older completing the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Independent variables considered and adjusted for, included age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, annual household income, smoking status, and health care status. Results: Prevalence of a Pap test in the past 3 years was 66.2%, of HPV test in the past 5 years was 40.2%, and of HIV test ever was 41.9%. HIV risk situations applied to 4.9% women (15.2% in ages 18-24, 7.2% in 25-44, 1.9% in 45-64, and 0.6% in 65 years and older). Adjusted odds (95% confidence interval) of a Pap, HPV, or HIV test according to HIV risk behavior status were 1.5 (1.3-1.8), 1.6 (1.4-1.8), and 2.6 (2.3-2.9), respectively. The positive association between HIV risk behavior and Pap testing depends on marital status. HIV risk behavior significantly correlates with several variables, which, in turn, correlate with testing. There was no association between HIV risk behavior and HPV vaccination. Conclusions: Women with HIV risk behavior are more likely to pursue Pap, HPV, and HIV testing. The significant positive associations are largest for HIV testing and smallest for Pap testing, after adjustment for the selected variables. HIV risk behavior is not associated with HPV vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ray M Merrill
- Department of Public Health, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Elizabeth N Williams
- Department of Public Health, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Heidi Fuhriman
- Department of Public Health, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
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Su D, Chen Y, He K, Zhang T, Tan M, Zhang Y, Zhang X. Influence of socio-ecological factors on COVID-19 risk: a cross-sectional study based on 178 countries/regions worldwide. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2020:2020.04.23.20077545. [PMID: 32511588 PMCID: PMC7276015 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.23.20077545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background The initial outbreak of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in China in 2019 has been severely tested in other countries worldwide. We aimed to describe the spatial distribution of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide and assess the effects of various socio-ecological factors on COVID-19 risk. Methods We collected COVID-19 pandemic infection data and social-ecological data of 178 countries/regions worldwide from three database. We used spatial econometrics method to assess the global and local correlation of COVID-19 risk indicators for COVID-19. To estimate the adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR), we modelled negative binomial regression analysis with spatial information and socio-ecological factors. Findings The study indicated that 37, 29 and 39 countries/regions were strongly opposite from the IR, CMR and DCI index "spatial autocorrelation hypothesis", respectively. The IRs were significantly positively associated with GDP per capita, the use of at least basic sanitation services and social insurance program coverage, and were significantly negatively associated with the proportion of the population spending more than 25% of household consumption or income on out-of-pocket health care expenses and the poverty headcount ratio at the national poverty lines. The CMR was significantly positively associated with urban populations, GDP per capita and current health expenditure, and was significantly negatively associated with the number of hospital beds, number of nurses and midwives, and poverty headcount ratio at the national poverty lines. The DCI was significantly positively associated with urban populations, population density and researchers in R&D, and was significantly negatively associated with the number of hospital beds, number of nurses and midwives and poverty headcount ratio at the national poverty lines. We also found that climatic factors were not significantly associated with COVID-19 risk. Conclusion Countries/regions should pay more attention to controlling population flow, improving diagnosis and treatment capacity, and improving public welfare policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dai Su
- Department of Health Management, School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Research Center for Rural Health Services, Hubei Province Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingchun Chen
- Department of Health Management, School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Research Center for Rural Health Services, Hubei Province Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Kevin He
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, West China School of Public Health and West China fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Min Tan
- Department of Health Management, School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Research Center for Rural Health Services, Hubei Province Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunfan Zhang
- Department of Health Management, School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Research Center for Rural Health Services, Hubei Province Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xingyu Zhang
- Department of Systems, Populations, and Leadership, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, United States
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Mekonnen FA, Lakew AM, Muchie KF, Teshome DF. Sero-positive HIV result disclosure to sexual partner in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:1743. [PMID: 31881867 PMCID: PMC6935207 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-8097-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The infection of HIV continues to be an important public health problem in Ethiopia. Disclosing own HIV positive result is crucial, and considered as a good indicator of behavior change towards HIV/AIDs. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to pool the prevalence of positive HIV status disclosure to sexual partners and determine the influence of selected factors. Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in Ethiopia among HIV positive people receiving health care at health facilities. In this review, primary studies were searched in Medline via PubMed, Google scholar and Google up to November, 2018. Data on disclosure of HIV positive result, knowledge of partner’s HIV status and prior discussion on HIV were extracted, and effect sizes like proportion and odds ratios were pooled. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed by chi-square and I2, and Egger test, respectively. Results A total of 12 studies with 4528 participants were included in to this review to estimate the prevalence of disclosure of HIV positive result to sexual partner, and 10 and 7 studies were included to determine the associations of the outcome variable with knowledge of sexual partner’s HIV status and with prior discussion on HIV, respectively. The pooled prevalence of HIV status disclosure to sexual partner was 73% (95% CI: 64, 82%). Having the knowledge of sexual partner’s HIV status [OR: 95%CI; 17.63 (7.88, 39.45)], and previous discussion on HIV [OR: 95% CI; 9.24 (5.56, 15.37)] increased the disclosure of own HIV positive result to sexual partner. The sub-group analysis indicated a prevalence of 74% in Oromia, 86% in Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNPR), 87% in Amhara, 73% in Addis Ababa, and 54% in Tigray. Conclusions Disclosure of HIV status to sexual partner is lower than expected. Knowledge of partner’s HIV status and previous discussion on HIV were strong predictors of HIV positive status disclosure. Strategies helpful for encouraging open HIV discussion need to be strengthened to increase HIV positive result disclosure. Furthermore, since the heterogeneity of studies is high, large nationally representative study is suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fantahun Ayenew Mekonnen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O.BOX: 96, Gondar, Ethiopia.
| | - Ayenew Molla Lakew
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O.BOX: 96, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Kindie Fentahun Muchie
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O.BOX: 96, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Destaw Fetene Teshome
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O.BOX: 96, Gondar, Ethiopia
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11
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Tanser F, Bärnighausen T, Dobra A, Sartorius B. Identifying 'corridors of HIV transmission' in a severely affected rural South African population: a case for a shift toward targeted prevention strategies. Int J Epidemiol 2019; 47:537-549. [PMID: 29300904 PMCID: PMC5913614 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyx257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the context of a severe generalized African HIV epidemic, the value of geographically targeted prevention interventions has only recently been given serious consideration. However, to date no study has performed a population-based analysis of the micro-geographical clustering of HIV incident infections, limiting the evidential support for such a strategy. Methods We followed 17 984 HIV-uninfected individuals aged 15–54 in a population-based cohort in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and observed individual HIV sero-conversions between 2004 and 2014. We geo-located all individuals to an exact homestead of residence (accuracy <2 m). We then employed a two-dimensional Gaussian kernel of radius 3 km to produce robust estimates of HIV incidence which vary across continuous geographical space. We also applied Tango's flexibly shaped spatial scan statistic to identify irregularly shaped clusters of high HIV incidence. Results Between 2004 and 2014, we observed a total of 2 311 HIV sero-conversions over 70 534 person-years of observation, at an overall incidence of 3.3 [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.1-3.4] per 100 person-years. Three large irregularly-shaped clusters of new HIV infections (relative risk = 1.6, 1.7 and 2.3) were identified in two adjacent peri-urban communities near the National Road (P = 0.001, 0.015) as well as in a rural node bordering a recent coal mine development (P = 0.020), respectively. Together the clusters had a significantly higher age-sex standardized incidence of 5.1 (95% CI, 4.7-5.6) per 100 person-years compared with a standardized incidence of 3.0 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 2.9-3.2) in the remainder of the study area. Though these clusters comprise just 6.8% of the study area, they account for one out of every four sero-conversions observed over the study period. Conclusions Our study has revealed clear ‘corridors of transmission’ in this typical rural, hyper-endemic population. Even in a severely affected rural African population, an approach that seeks to provide preventive interventions to the most vulnerable geographies could be more effective and cost-effective in reducing the overall rate of new HIV infections. There is an urgent need to develop and test such interventions as part of an overall combination prevention approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Tanser
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.,School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.,Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.,Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Institute for Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Adrian Dobra
- Department of Statistics, Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics, Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences and Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Benn Sartorius
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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Kenyon CR. HIV prevalence correlated with circumcision prevalence and high-risk sexual behavior in India's states: an ecological study. F1000Res 2019; 8:60. [PMID: 31316754 PMCID: PMC6611127 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.17807.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: HIV prevalence varies between 0% and 1.6% in India's states. The factors underpinning this variation are poorly defined. Methods: We evaluated the relationship between HIV prevalence by state and a range of risk factors in the Indian 2015 National Family Health Survey. Pearson’s correlation was used to assess the relationship between HIV prevalence and each variable. The prevalence of each risk factor was compared between five high-HIV-prevalence states (>1% prevalence) and a large low-HIV-prevalence state (Uttar Pradesh; HIV prevalence, 0.06%). Results: There was an association between HIV prevalence and men's mean lifetime number of partners (r = 0.55; P = 0.001) and men reporting sex with a non-married, non-cohabiting partner (r = 0.40; P = 0.014). In general, men in high-prevalence states were less likely to be circumcised and (with the exception of Chandigarh) use condoms at last sex. In two high prevalence states (Mizoram and Nagaland), men reported a higher number of lifetime partners and a higher prevalence of multiple partners and high-risk sex in the past year. Conclusions: Variation in circumcision prevalence and sexual behavior may contribute to the large variations in HIV prevalence by state in India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris R Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium.,University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 7925, South Africa
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13
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Kenyon CR, Delva W. It's the network, stupid: a population's sexual network connectivity determines its STI prevalence. F1000Res 2018; 7:1880. [PMID: 30815252 PMCID: PMC6376253 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.17148.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
There is little consensus as to why sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV and bacterial vaginosis (BV) are more prevalent in some populations than others. Using a broad definition of sexual network connectivity that includes both structural and conductivity-related factors, we argue that the available evidence suggests that high prevalence of traditional STIs, HIV and BV can be parsimoniously explained by these populations having more connected sexual networks. Positive feedback, whereby BV and various STIs enhance the spread of other STIs, then further accentuates the spread of BV, HIV and other STIs. We review evidence that support this hypothesis and end by suggesting study designs that could further evaluate the hypothesis, as well as implications of this hypothesis for the prevention and management of STIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris R. Kenyon
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Wim Delva
- Department of Global Health, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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14
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Kenyon CR, Buyze J, Schwartz IS. Strong association between higher-risk sex and HIV prevalence at the regional level: an ecological study of 27 sub-Saharan African countries. F1000Res 2018; 7:1879. [PMID: 30800288 PMCID: PMC6367661 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.17108.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: It is unclear why HIV prevalence varies by nearly two orders of magnitude between regions within countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In this ecological study, we assess if HIV prevalence by region is associated with any of four markers of higher risk sexual behavior: lifetime number of partners, multiple partners in past year, higher risk sex (defined as sex with non-cohabiting, non-marital partners) and age at debut. Methods: We performed Pearson's correlation between the 4 behavioral risk factors and HIV prevalence by region in 47 nationally representative surveys from 27 sub-Saharan African countries, separately by gender. In addition, principal components analysis was used to reduce the eight risk factors (four for each gender) to two principal components (PCs). Mixed effects linear regression was used to assess the relationship between the resulting two PCs and HIV prevalence after controlling for the prevalence of male circumcision. Results: HIV prevalence varied by a median 3.7 fold (IQR 2.9-7.9) between regions within countries. HIV prevalence was strongly associated with higher risk sex and, to a lesser extent, the other risk factors evaluated. Both PCs were strongly associated with HIV prevalence when assessed via linear regression. Conclusions: Differences in sexual behavior may underpin the large differences in HIV-prevalence between subpopulation within sub-Saharan African countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris R Kenyon
- Clinical Science, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
| | - Jozefien Buyze
- Clinical Science, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
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15
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Kenyon CR, Delva W. It's the network, stupid: a population's sexual network connectivity determines its STI prevalence. F1000Res 2018; 7:1880. [PMID: 30815252 PMCID: PMC6376253 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.17148.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There is little consensus as to why sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV and bacterial vaginosis (BV) are more prevalent in some populations than others. Using a broad definition of sexual network connectivity that includes both structural and conductivity-related factors, we argue that the available evidence suggests that high prevalence of traditional STIs, HIV and BV can be parsimoniously explained by these populations having more connected sexual networks. Positive feedback, whereby BV and various STIs enhance the spread of other STIs, then further accentuates the spread of BV, HIV and other STIs. We review evidence that support this hypothesis and end by suggesting study designs that could further evaluate the hypothesis, as well as implications of this hypothesis for the prevention and management of STIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris R. Kenyon
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Wim Delva
- Department of Global Health, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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16
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Anderson S, Garnett GP, Enstone J, Hallett TB. The importance of local epidemic conditions in monitoring progress towards HIV epidemic control in Kenya: a modelling study. J Int AIDS Soc 2018; 21:e25203. [PMID: 30485720 PMCID: PMC6260921 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Setting and monitoring progress towards targets for HIV control is critical in ensuring responsive programmes. Here, we explore how to apply targets for reduction in HIV incidence to local settings and which indicators give the strongest signal of a change in incidence in the population and are therefore most important to monitor. METHODS We use location-specific HIV transmission models, tailored to the epidemics in the counties and major cities in Kenya, to project a wide range of plausible future epidemic trajectories through varying behaviours, treatment coverage and prevention interventions. We look at the change in incidence across modelled scenarios in each location between 2015 and 2030 to inform local target setting. We also simulate the measurement of a library of potential indicators and assess which are most strongly associated with a change in incidence. RESULTS Considerable variation was observed in the trajectory of the local epidemics under the plausible scenarios defined (only 10 of 48 locations saw a median reduction in incidence of greater than or equal to an 80% target by 2030). Indicators that provide strong signals in certain epidemic types may not perform consistently well in settings with different epidemiological features. Predicting changes in incidence is more challenging in advanced generalized epidemics compared to concentrated epidemics where changes in high-risk sub-populations track more closely to the population as a whole. Many indicators demonstrate only limited association with incidence (such as "condom use" or "pre-exposure prophylaxis coverage"). This is because many other factors (low effectiveness, impact of other interventions, countervailing changes in risk behaviours, etc.) can confound the relationship between interventions and their ultimate long-term impact, especially for an intervention with low expected coverage. The population prevalence of viral suppression shows the most consistent associations with long-term changes in incidence even in the largest generalized epidemics. CONCLUSIONS Target setting should be appropriate for the local epidemic and what can feasibly be achieved. There is no one universally reliable indicator to predict future HIV incidence across settings. Thus, the signature of epidemic control must contain indications of success across a wide range of interventions and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah‐Jane Anderson
- Department of Infectious Disease EpidemiologyImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | | | - Joanne Enstone
- Division of Public Health and EpidemiologyThe University of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Timothy B Hallett
- Department of Infectious Disease EpidemiologyImperial College LondonLondonUK
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Kenyon CR, Wolfs K, Osbak K, van Lankveld J, Van Hal G. Implicit attitudes to sexual partner concurrency vary by sexual orientation but not by gender-A cross sectional study of Belgian students. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196821. [PMID: 29738541 PMCID: PMC5940213 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
High rates of sexual partner concurrency have been shown to facilitate the spread of various sexually transmitted infections. Assessments of explicit attitudes to concurrency have however found little difference between populations. Implicit attitudes to concurrency may vary between populations and play a role in generating differences in the prevalence of concurrency. We developed a concurrency implicit associations test (C-IAT) to assess if implicit attitudes towards concurrency may vary between individuals and populations and what the correlates of these variations are. A sample of 869 Belgian students (mean age 23, SD 5.1) completed an online version of the C-IAT together with a questionnaire concerning sexual behavior and explicit attitudes to concurrency. The study participants C-IATs demonstrated a strong preference for monogamy (-0.78, SD = 0.41). 93.2% of participants had a pro-monogamy C-IAT. There was no difference in this implicit preference for monogamy between heterosexual men and women. Men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women were more likely to exhibit implicit but not explicit preferences for concurrency compared to heterosexual men and women. Correlates of the C-IAT varied between men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris R. Kenyon
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- * E-mail:
| | - Kenny Wolfs
- Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Kara Osbak
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jacques van Lankveld
- Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Guido Van Hal
- University of Antwerp, Medical Sociology and Health Policy, Antwerp, Belgium
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HIV prevalence by ethnic group covaries with prevalence of herpes simplex virus-2 and high-risk sex in Uganda: An ecological study. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195431. [PMID: 29617423 PMCID: PMC5884562 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background HIV prevalence varies from 1.7% to 14.8% between ethnic groups in Uganda. Understanding the factors responsible for this heterogeneity in HIV spread may guide prevention efforts. Methods We evaluated the relationship between HIV prevalence by ethnic group and a range of risk factors as well as the prevalence of herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), syphilis and symptomatic STIs in the 2004/2005 Uganda HIV/AIDS Sero-Behavioural Survey—a two stage, nationally representative, population based survey of 15–59-year-olds. Spearman’s correlation was used to assess the relationship between HIV prevalence and each variable. Results There was a positive association between HIV prevalence and HSV-2, symptomatic STIs and high-risk sex (sex with a non-cohabiting, non-marital partner) for women. Non-significant positive associations were present between HIV and high-risk sex for men and lifetime number of partners for men and women. Conclusion Variation in sexual behavior may contribute to the variations in HIV, HSV-2 and other STI prevalence by ethnic group in Uganda. Further work is necessary to delineate which combinations of risk factors determine differential STI spread in Uganda.
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Palk L, Blower S. Geographic variation in sexual behavior can explain geospatial heterogeneity in the severity of the HIV epidemic in Malawi. BMC Med 2018; 16:22. [PMID: 29422096 PMCID: PMC5806472 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-018-1006-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In sub-Saharan Africa, where ~ 25 million individuals are infected with HIV and transmission is predominantly heterosexual, there is substantial geographic variation in the severity of epidemics. This variation has yet to be explained. Here, we propose that it is due to geographic variation in the size of the high-risk group (HRG): the group with a high number of sex partners. We test our hypothesis by conducting a geospatial analysis of data from Malawi, where ~ 13% of women and ~ 8% of men are infected with HIV. METHODS We used georeferenced HIV testing and behavioral data from ~ 14,000 participants of a nationally representative population-level survey: the 2010 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS). We constructed gender-stratified epidemic surface prevalence (ESP) maps by spatially smoothing and interpolating the HIV testing data. We used the behavioral data to construct gender-stratified risk maps that reveal geographic variation in the size of the HRG. We tested our hypothesis by fitting gender-stratified spatial error regression (SER) models to the MDHS data. RESULTS The ESP maps show considerable geographic variation in prevalence: 1-29% (women), 1-20% (men). Risk maps reveal substantial geographic variation in the size of the HRG: 0-40% (women), 16-58% (men). Prevalence and the size of the HRG are highest in urban centers. However, the majority of HIV-infected individuals (~75% of women, ~ 80% of men) live in rural areas, as does most of the HRG (~ 80% of women, ~ 85% of men). We identify a significant (P < 0.001) geospatial relationship linking the size of the HRG with prevalence: the greater the size, the higher the prevalence. SER models show HIV prevalence in women is expected to exceed the national average in districts where > 20% of women are in the HRG. Most importantly, the SER models show that geographic variation in the size of the HRG can explain a substantial proportion (73% for women, 67% for men) of the geographic variation in epidemic severity. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results provide substantial support for our hypothesis. They provide a potential mechanistic explanation for the geographic variation in the severity of the HIV epidemic in Malawi and, potentially, in other countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Palk
- Center for Biomedical Modeling, Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 760 Westwood Plaza, Office 27-423, Los Angeles, California, 90095, USA
| | - Sally Blower
- Center for Biomedical Modeling, Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 760 Westwood Plaza, Office 27-423, Los Angeles, California, 90095, USA.
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Kenyon C. Strong associations between national prevalence of various STIs suggests sexual network connectivity is a common underpinning risk factor. BMC Infect Dis 2017; 17:682. [PMID: 29025419 PMCID: PMC5639489 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2794-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background If national peak Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevalence is positively associated with the prevalence of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from before or early on in the HIV epidemics this would suggest common underlying drivers. Methods Pearson’s correlations were calculated between the prevalence of seven STIs at a country-level: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, bacterial vaginosis, herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) and HIV. Results The prevalence of all the STIs was highest in the sub-Saharan African region excluding chlamydia. The prevalence of all seven STIs were positively correlated excluding chlamydia. The correlations were strongest for HIV-HSV-2 (r = 0.85, P < 0.0001) and HSV-2-trichomoniasis (r = 0.82, P < 0.0001). Conclusion Our results of a generally positive association between the prevalences of a range of STIs suggests that higher prevalences were driven by common underlying determinants. We review different types of evidence which suggest that differential sexual connectivity is a plausible common determinant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Kenyon
- Sexually Transmitted Infections HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. .,Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7700, South Africa.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES HIV and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections are sexually transmitted and propagate in sexual networks. Using mathematical modeling, we aimed to quantify effects of key network statistics on infection transmission, and extent to which HSV-2 prevalence can be a proxy of HIV prevalence. DESIGN/METHODS An individual-based simulation model was constructed to describe sex partnering and infection transmission, and was parameterized with representative natural history, transmission, and sexual behavior data. Correlations were assessed on model outcomes (HIV/HSV-2 prevalences) and multiple linear regressions were conducted to estimate adjusted associations and effect sizes. RESULTS HIV prevalence was one-third or less of HSV-2 prevalence. HIV and HSV-2 prevalences were associated with a Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of 0.64 (95% confidence interval: 0.58-0.69). Collinearities among network statistics were detected, most notably between concurrency versus mean and variance of number of partners. Controlling for confounding, unmarried mean/variance of number of partners (or alternatively concurrency) were the strongest predictors of HIV prevalence. Meanwhile, unmarried/married mean/variance of number of partners (or alternatively concurrency), and clustering coefficient were the strongest predictors of HSV-2 prevalence. HSV-2 prevalence was a strong predictor of HIV prevalence by proxying effects of network statistics. CONCLUSION Network statistics produced similar and differential effects on HIV/HSV-2 transmission, and explained most of the variation in HIV and HSV-2 prevalences. HIV prevalence reflected primarily mean and variance of number of partners, but HSV-2 prevalence was affected by a range of network statistics. HSV-2 prevalence (as a proxy) can forecast a population's HIV epidemic potential, thereby informing interventions.
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Johnson LF, Dorrington RE, Moolla H. HIV epidemic drivers in South Africa: A model-based evaluation of factors accounting for inter-provincial differences in HIV prevalence and incidence trends. South Afr J HIV Med 2017; 18:695. [PMID: 29568631 PMCID: PMC5843035 DOI: 10.4102/sajhivmed.v18i1.695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background HIV prevalence differs substantially between South Africa’s provinces, but the factors accounting for this difference are poorly understood. Objectives To estimate HIV prevalence and incidence trends by province, and to identify the epidemiological factors that account for most of the variation between provinces. Methods A mathematical model of the South African HIV epidemic was applied to each of the nine provinces, allowing for provincial differences in demography, sexual behaviour, male circumcision, interventions and epidemic timing. The model was calibrated to HIV prevalence data from antenatal and household surveys using a Bayesian approach. Parameters estimated for each province were substituted into the national model to assess sensitivity to provincial variations. Results HIV incidence in 15–49-year-olds peaked between 1997 and 2003 and has since declined steadily. By mid-2013, HIV prevalence in 15–49-year-olds varied between 9.4% (95% CI: 8.5%–10.2%) in Western Cape and 26.8% (95% CI: 25.8%–27.6%) in KwaZulu-Natal. When standardising parameters across provinces, this prevalence was sensitive to provincial differences in the prevalence of male circumcision (range 12.3%–21.4%) and the level of non-marital sexual activity (range 9.5%–24.1%), but not to provincial differences in condom use (range 17.7%–21.2%), sexual mixing (range 15.9%–19.2%), marriage (range 18.2%–19.4%) or assumed HIV prevalence in 1985 (range 17.0%–19.1%). Conclusion The provinces of South Africa differ in the timing and magnitude of their HIV epidemics. Most of the heterogeneity in HIV prevalence between South Africa’s provinces is attributable to differences in the prevalence of male circumcision and the frequency of non-marital sexual activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh F Johnson
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rob E Dorrington
- Centre for Actuarial Research, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Haroon Moolla
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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Alsallaq RA, Buttolph J, Cleland CM, Hallett T, Inwani I, Agot K, Kurth AE. The potential impact and cost of focusing HIV prevention on young women and men: A modeling analysis in western Kenya. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175447. [PMID: 28403211 PMCID: PMC5389814 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We compared the impact and costs of HIV prevention strategies focusing on youth (15-24 year-old persons) versus on adults (15+ year-old persons), in a high-HIV burden context of a large generalized epidemic. DESIGN Compartmental age-structured mathematical model of HIV transmission in Nyanza, Kenya. INTERVENTIONS The interventions focused on youth were high coverage HIV testing (80% of youth), treatment at diagnosis (TasP, i.e., immediate start of antiretroviral therapy [ART]) and 10% increased condom usage for HIV-positive diagnosed youth, male circumcision for HIV-negative young men, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for high-risk HIV-negative females (ages 20-24 years), and cash transfer for in-school HIV-negative girls (ages 15-19 years). Permutations of these were compared to adult-focused HIV testing coverage with condoms and TasP. RESULTS The youth-focused strategy with ART treatment at diagnosis and condom use without adding interventions for HIV-negative youth performed better than the adult-focused strategy with adult testing reaching 50-60% coverage and TasP/condoms. Over the long term, the youth-focused strategy approached the performance of 70% adult testing and TasP/condoms. When high coverage male circumcision also is added to the youth-focused strategy, the combined intervention outperformed the adult-focused strategy with 70% testing, for at least 35 years by averting 94,000 more infections, averting 5.0 million more disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and saving US$46.0 million over this period. The addition of prevention interventions beyond circumcision to the youth-focused strategy would be more beneficial if HIV care costs are high, or when program delivery costs are relatively high for programs encompassing HIV testing coverage exceeding 70%, TasP and condoms to HIV-infected adults compared to combination prevention programs among youth. CONCLUSION For at least the next three decades, focusing in high burden settings on high coverage HIV testing, ART treatment upon diagnosis, condoms and male circumcision among youth may outperform adult-focused ART treatment upon diagnosis programs, unless the adult testing coverage in these programs reaches very high levels (>70% of all adults reached) at similar program costs. Our results indicate the potential importance of age-targeting for HIV prevention in the current era of 'test and start, ending AIDS' goals to ameliorate the HIV epidemic globally.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Kawango Agot
- Impact Research & Development Organization, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Ann E. Kurth
- New York University, New York, United States of America
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Steinert JI, Cluver L, Melendez-Torres GJ, Herrero Romero R. Relationships between poverty and AIDS Illness in South Africa: an investigation of urban and rural households in KwaZulu-Natal. Glob Public Health 2016; 12:1183-1199. [PMID: 27249956 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2016.1187191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The association between poverty and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa remains contested. A better understanding of the relationship between the prevalence of poverty and the disease is essential for addressing prevention, treatment, and care. The present study interrogates this relationship, using a cross-sectional survey of 2477 households in urban and rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Structural equation modelling was employed to estimate the correlations between poverty and AIDS illness. The analysis revealed a correlation of rpb = 0.23, denoting that a higher level of household poverty was associated with a higher likelihood of being AIDS-unwell. Post hoc t-test showed that receipt of a disability grant by AIDS-affected households was associated with significantly lower poverty, compared to AIDS-affected households not receiving the grant, t(654) = 3.67, p < .01. Geographic location was found to confound the correlation: the strength of the relationship between poverty and AIDS was decreased to rpb = 0.15 (p < .001) for the urban and rpb = 0.16 (p < .001) for the rural sub-population. Findings suggest the importance of two sets of policies: those that address the potential upstream risk of poverty through economic interventions, and those that alleviate the impoverishing effects of AIDS illness for affected households.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucie Cluver
- a Department of Social Policy and Intervention , University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - G J Melendez-Torres
- a Department of Social Policy and Intervention , University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Rocio Herrero Romero
- a Department of Social Policy and Intervention , University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
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Kenyon CR, Tsoumanis A, Schwartz IS. A population's higher-risk sexual behaviour is associated with its average sexual behaviour-An ecological analysis of subpopulations in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and the United States. Epidemics 2016; 15:56-65. [PMID: 27266849 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the large variation in the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections between populations it is important to characterize how sexual vary between populations. In this paper we assess how the distribution of lifetime sexual partners varies between populations. We ask: do populations with higher mean lifetime sexual partners merely differ by virtue of the presence of a core-group with increased number of partners or do the population distributions move as more coherent wholes? METHODS We defined those in the top decile of lifetime sex partners in each country as constituting the higher-risk behaviour group (HRB). Spearman's correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between mean lifetime partners and prevalence of those in the HRB by ethnic group within Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and the United States. In each case, data from nationally representative surveys were used. Two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum were applied to test if there was a difference in the number of lifetime partners between the highest and lowest-risk subpopulations, separately for men and women. To account for autocorrelation, all analyses were conducted using means/medians excluding those in the HRB. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS In each country, a positive correlation existed between subpopulations' mean lifetime partners and the prevalence of the HRB. Spearman's correlation varied from 0.20 to 0.99 for men and 0.74 to 1.0 for women. This association was statistically significant in 6 out of 10 comparisons. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of lifetime partners between the highest and lowest-risk ethnic groups in all countries except South Africa, where the difference was only significant for women. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that sexual behaviours vary coherently between different populations. As such, sexually transmitted infection control efforts would benefit from including both targeted campaigns focusing on the HRB and population-strategies that seek to address factors responsible for high mean risk behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris R Kenyon
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | | | - Ilan Steven Schwartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Kenyon CR, Tsoumanis A, Schwartz IS, Maughan-Brown B. Partner concurrency and HIV infection risk in South Africa. Int J Infect Dis 2016; 45:81-7. [PMID: 26955757 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between concurrent sexual partnerships and HIV risk is not fully understood. Evidence on the relationship between partner concurrency (one's sexual partner has another partner) and individual HIV risk is limited. In this study, the relationship between reported sexual partner concurrency and the risk of HIV infection was explored among South Africans. METHODS Data from the third South African national HIV survey were used. In this survey, performed in 2008, questionnaires and HIV tests were administered to a nationally representative sample of 15031 persons. Bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression were used to evaluate the relationship between partner concurrency and HIV serostatus. Spearman's correlation was used to test the association between the prevalence of HIV and partner concurrency by race in women. RESULTS The relationship between HIV prevalence and partner concurrency varied by race. At a cross-racial level there was a positive association between HIV prevalence and partner concurrency for women (rho=0.95, p=0.05). Among coloured, white, and Indian persons, HIV prevalence and partner concurrency rates were too low to allow further statistical testing. In the bivariate analysis, black African women who reported partner concurrency had a higher prevalence of HIV (36% (95% confidence interval (CI) 29.7-42.0) vs. 23% (95% CI 19.6-26.1), p<0.001). After controlling for demographic, social, biological, and behavioural variables, the association remained statistically significant (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.4, p=0.04). The association was stronger among 15-29-year-old black African women (aOR 1.8, p=0.03) than among women aged 30 years and older (aOR 1.3, p=0.36). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that partner concurrency may increase the HIV infection risk for black South African women, and in particular, for younger women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris R Kenyon
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerpen 2000, Belgium; Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Achilleas Tsoumanis
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerpen 2000, Belgium
| | - Ilan S Schwartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Brendan Maughan-Brown
- Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, Department of Economics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Eggers SM, Aarø LE, Bos AER, Mathews C, Kaaya SF, Onya H, de Vries H. Sociocognitive Predictors of Condom Use and Intentions Among Adolescents in Three Sub-Saharan Sites. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2016; 45:353-65. [PMID: 25925898 PMCID: PMC4706577 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-015-0525-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Revised: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Many HIV intervention programs in sub-Saharan Africa have applied social cognitive theories such as the theory of planned behavior. However, a recent sub-Saharan African review was unable to show increased effectiveness for theory-based interventions. This study assessed whether the predictive value of attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and intention was similar to studies in Europe and the U.S., and whether there were differences between three sub-Saharan sites. Longitudinal multigroup structural equation modeling was used to assess whether attitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy predicted condom use intentions and condom use (after 6 months) among adolescents in three sites, namely Cape Town (South Africa; N = 625), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania; N = 271), and Mankweng (South Africa; N = 404). Condom use intentions were predicted by subjective norms and self-efficacy in all three sites. Attitudes were not related to intentions in Dar es Salaam and were moderately related to intentions in Cape Town and Mankweng. The proportions of explained variance in intentions and behavior were decent (37-52 and 9-19%, respectively). Although significant differences in predictive value were found between sites and in comparison to European and U.S. studies, intentions could adequately be explained by attitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy. However, the limited proportions of variance in behavior explained by intentions could signify the importance of contextual and environmental factors. Future studies are recommended to use an integrative approach that takes into account both individual and contextual factors, as well as social and environmental differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sander M Eggers
- Department of Health Promotion, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, POB 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Leif E Aarø
- Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Arjan E R Bos
- School of Psychology, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Catherine Mathews
- Health System Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Adolescent Health Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sylvia F Kaaya
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Hans Onya
- Department of Public Health Practice and Health Promotion, School of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo-Turfloop Campus, Sovenga, South Africa
| | - Hein de Vries
- Department of Health Promotion, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, POB 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Kibira SPS, Sandøy IF, Daniel M, Atuyambe LM, Makumbi FE. A comparison of sexual risk behaviours and HIV seroprevalence among circumcised and uncircumcised men before and after implementation of the safe male circumcision programme in Uganda. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:7. [PMID: 26727935 PMCID: PMC4700673 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-2668-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although male circumcision reduces the heterosexual HIV transmission risk, its effect may be attenuated if circumcised men increase sexual risk behaviours (SRB) due to perceived low risk. In Uganda information about the protective effects of circumcision has been publicly disseminated since 2007. If increased awareness of the protection increases SRB among circumcised men, it is likely that differences in prevalence of SRB among circumcised versus uncircumcised men will change over time. This study aimed at comparing SRBs and HIV sero-status of circumcised and uncircumcised men before and after the launch of the safe male circumcision programme. METHODS Data from the 2004 and 2011 Uganda AIDS Indicator Surveys (UAIS) were used. The analyses were based on generalized linear models, obtaining prevalence ratios (PR) as measures of association between circumcision status and multiple sexual partners, transactional sex, sex with non-marital partners, condom use at last non-marital sex, and HIV infection. In addition we conducted multivariate analyses adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, and the multivariate models for HIV status were also adjusted for SRB. RESULTS Twenty six percent of men were circumcised in 2004 and 28% in 2011. Prevalence of SRB was higher among circumcised men in both surveys. In the unadjusted analysis, circumcision was associated with having multiple sexual partners and non-marital partners. Condom use was not associated with circumcision in 2004, but in 2011 circumcised men were less likely to report condom use with the last non-marital partner. The associations between the other sexual risk behaviours and circumcision status were stable across the two surveys." In both surveys, circumcised men were less likely to be HIV positive (Adj PR 0.55; CI: 0.41-0.73 in 2004 and Adj PR 0.64; CI: 0.49-0.83 in 2011). CONCLUSIONS There was higher prevalence of SRBs among circumcised men in both surveys, but the only significant change from 2004 to 2011 was a lower prevalence of condom use among the circumcised. Nevertheless, HIV prevalence was lower among circumcised men. Targeted messages for circumcised men and their sexual partners to continue using condoms even after circumcision should be enhanced to avoid risk compensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Peter Sebina Kibira
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. .,Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Ingvild Fossgard Sandøy
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Marguerite Daniel
- Department of Health Promotion and Development, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lynn Muhimbuura Atuyambe
- Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Fredrick Edward Makumbi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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Kibira SPS, Makumbi F, Daniel M, Atuyambe LM, Sandøy IF. Sexual Risk Behaviours and Willingness to Be Circumcised among Uncircumcised Adult Men in Uganda. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144843. [PMID: 26658740 PMCID: PMC4678174 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There has been substantial demand for safe male circumcision (SMC) in Uganda in the early programme scale-up phase. Research indicates that early adopters of new interventions often differ from later adopters in relation to a range of behaviours. However, there is limited knowledge about the risk profile of men who were willing to be circumcised at the time of launching the SMC programme, i.e., potential early adopters, compared to those who were reluctant. The aim of this study was to address this gap to provide indications on whether it is likely that potential early adopters of male circumcision were more in need of this new prevention measure than others. Methods Data were from the 2011 Uganda AIDS Indictor Survey (UAIS), with a nationally representative sample of men 15 to 59 years. The analysis was based on generalized linear models, obtaining prevalence risk ratios (PRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) as measures of association between willingness to be circumcised and multiple sexual partners, transactional sex, non-marital sex and non-use of condoms at last non-marital sex. Results Of the 5,776 men in the survey, 44% expressed willingness to be circumcised. Willingness to be circumcised was higher among the younger, urban and educated men. In the unadjusted analyses, all the sexual risk behaviours were associated with willingness to be circumcised, while in the adjusted analysis, non-marital sex (Adj PRR 1.27; CI: 1.16–1.40) and non-use of condoms at last such sex (Adj PRR 1.18; CI: 1.07–1.29) were associated with higher willingness to be circumcised. Conclusion Willingness to be circumcised was relatively high at the launch of the SMC programme and was more common among uncircumcised men reporting sexual risk behaviours. This indicates that the early adopters of SMC were likely to be in particular need of such additional HIV protective measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P. S. Kibira
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
- * E-mail:
| | - Fredrick Makumbi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Marguerite Daniel
- Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lynn Muhimbuura Atuyambe
- Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ingvild Fossgard Sandøy
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Kenyon CR, Tsoumanis A, Schwartz IS. HIV Prevalence Correlates with High-Risk Sexual Behavior in Ethiopia's Regions. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0140835. [PMID: 26496073 PMCID: PMC4619767 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV prevalence varies between 0.9 and 6.5% in Ethiopia's eleven regions. Little has been published examining the reasons for this variation. METHODS We evaluated the relationship between HIV prevalence by region and a range of risk factors in the 2005 and 2011 Ethiopian Demographic Health Surveys. Pearson's correlation was used to assess the relationship between HIV prevalence and each variable. RESULTS There was a strong association between HIV prevalence and three markers of sexual risk: mean lifetime number of partners (men: r = 0.87; P < 0.001; women: r = 0.60; P = 0.05); reporting sex with a non-married, non-cohabiting partner (men: r = 0.92; P < 0.001, women r = 0.93; P < 0.001); and premarital sex. Condom usage and HIV testing were positively associated with HIV prevalence, while the prevalence of circumcision, polygamy, age at sexual debut and male migration were not associated with HIV prevalence. CONCLUSION Variation in sexual behavior may contribute to the large variations in HIV prevalence by region in Ethiopia. Population-level interventions to reduce risky sexual behavior in high HIV incidence regions should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris R. Kenyon
- HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Ilan Steven Schwartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
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Lau FK, Jayakumar S, Sgaier SK. Understanding the socio-economic and sexual behavioural correlates of male circumcision across eleven voluntary medical male circumcision priority countries in southeastern Africa. BMC Public Health 2015; 15:813. [PMID: 26297202 PMCID: PMC4546248 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-2135-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male circumcision (MC) has been demonstrated to be effective and cost-effective for HIV/AIDS prevention. Global guidance to adopt this intervention was announced in 2007 for countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence and low MC prevalence. However, scale up of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) programs in MC priority countries have been slow. Many of these countries have particular cultural barriers that impede uptake of this effective intervention. This analysis explored correlates of MC status among men and their socio-economic, health and sexual behaviour factors using DHS data (2006-2011) from 11 MC priority countries. METHODS Our analysis included univariate unadjusted analyses for individual countries and the region (by combining all countries into one dataset) and a multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS Individual country results vary widely but alignment was mostly found between unadjusted analyses and multiple logistic regression model. The model found that men who are of the Muslim faith, reside in urban areas, have higher or secondary education attainment, hold professional occupations, and be in the richest wealth quintile are more likely to be circumcised. Circumcision is also positively correlated with lower reports of STIs, safe sexual behaviour, and HIV/AIDS prevention knowledge. CONCLUSIONS Since the data collected predate VMMC program launch in these countries, results can only indicate baseline associations. However, characteristics of these existing circumcision practices may be utilized for better population targeting and program management to achieve higher impact with this effective prevention strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona K Lau
- Integrated Delivery, Global Development Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Sylvia Jayakumar
- Integrated Delivery, Global Development Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Sema K Sgaier
- Integrated Delivery, Global Development Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Chemtob D, Op de Coul E, van Sighem A, Mor Z, Cazein F, Semaille C. Impact of Male Circumcision among heterosexual HIV cases: comparisons between three low HIV prevalence countries. Isr J Health Policy Res 2015; 4:36. [PMID: 26244087 PMCID: PMC4524174 DOI: 10.1186/s13584-015-0033-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 07/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies performed in high-HIV prevalence countries showed a strong epidemiological association between male circumcision (MC) and the prevention of HIV transmission. We estimated the potential impact of MC on the general heterosexual population in low-HIV prevalence countries. METHODS Cross-national comparisons, including data on newly diagnosed HIV cases among heterosexuals living in Israel (where almost all males undergo MC), to similar data from the Netherlands and France (where <10 % of males are circumcised) were performed. National data from HIV registers and Bureaus of Statistics for the period of 2004-2010, global rates, rates by sex, age, and year of HIV-diagnosis were compared. MC and potential biases were examined. RESULTS Annual rates of new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 were significantly lower in Israel compared to the Netherlands and France (for men: 0.26-0.70, 1.91-2.28, and 2.69-3.47, respectively; for women: 0.10-0.34, 1.10-2.10 and 2.41-3.08, respectively). Similarly, HIV-rates were much lower in Israel when comparing by age groups. Although Gross National Income per capita in 2010 was lower in Israel compared to the Netherlands and France, access to HIV testing and treatment were not different between countries. Also, the number of sexual-partners and condom-use in the general population showed a high similarity between the countries. CONCLUSIONS The lower rate of HIV among heterosexuals in Israel compared to the Netherlands and France might be explained by MC routinely practiced in Israel, since other parameters of influence on HIV transmission were rather similar between the countries. However, recommendation for systematic MC in low HIV prevalence countries requires further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Chemtob
- />Department of Tuberculosis and AIDS, Ministry of Health, P.O.B. 1176, Jerusalem, 944727 Israel
| | - Eline Op de Coul
- />Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | | | - Zohar Mor
- />Department of Tuberculosis and AIDS, Ministry of Health, P.O.B. 1176, Jerusalem, 944727 Israel
| | - Françoise Cazein
- />HIV/AIDS-STI-Hepatitis B and C Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint Maurice, France
| | - Caroline Semaille
- />HIV/AIDS-STI-Hepatitis B and C Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint Maurice, France
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What really is a concentrated HIV epidemic and what does it mean for West and Central Africa? Insights from mathematical modeling. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2015; 68 Suppl 2:S74-82. [PMID: 25723994 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000000437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV epidemics have traditionally been classified as "concentrated" among key populations if overall HIV prevalence was below 1% and as "generalized" otherwise. We aimed to objectively determine the utility of this classification by determining how high overall HIV prevalence can reach in epidemics driven by unprotected sex work (SW) and how estimates of the contribution of SW to HIV transmission changes over time in these epidemics. METHODS We developed a deterministic model of HIV transmission specific to West and Central Africa to simulate 1000 synthetic HIV epidemics, where SW is the sole behavioral driver that sustains HIV in the population (ie, truly concentrated epidemics), and it is based on a systematic extraction of model parameters specific to West and Central Africa. We determined the range of plausible HIV prevalence in the total population over time and calculated the population attributable fraction (PAF) of SW over different time periods. RESULTS In 1988 and 2008, HIV prevalence across the 1000 synthetic concentrated HIV epidemics ranged (5th-95th percentile) between 0.1%-4.2% and 0.1%-2.8%, respectively. The maximum HIV prevalence peaked at 12%. The PAF of SW measured from 2008 over 1 year was <5%-18% compared with 16%-59% over 20 years in these SW-driven epidemics. CONCLUSIONS Even high HIV-prevalence epidemics can be driven by unprotected SW and therefore concentrated. Overall, HIV prevalence and the short-term PAF are poor makers of underlying transmission dynamics and underestimate the role of SW in HIV epidemics and thus should not be used alone to inform HIV programs.
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Kenyon C, Dlamini S, Boulle A, White RG, Badri M. A network-level explanation for the differences in HIV prevalence in South Africa's racial groups. AJAR-AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AIDS RESEARCH 2015; 8:243-54. [PMID: 25864540 DOI: 10.2989/ajar.2009.8.3.1.922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Analyses of individual-level risk factors have not been able to adequately explain why HIV has spread so extensively in southern Africa and why this has occurred especially within certain racial or ethnic groups. Using data from a longitudinal study of a representative sample of adolescents aged 14-22 living in Cape Town, South Africa, this article presents evidence of how differences in individual-level risk factors as well as sexual network structures between different racial or ethnic groups may help explain the differential spread of HIV in South Africa. Particular emphasis is placed on how levels of partner concurrency, respondent concurrency, mutual concurrency, serial concurrency and numbers of sexual partners and an average early age of sexual debut combine in different ways in the different racial or ethnic groups to create networks of sexual partnerships that differ in the density of their interconnections and hence potential for HIV spread. These network-level differences offer a potential explanation for the observed generalised HIV epidemic seen among the population of black South Africans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Kenyon
- a Department of Medicine , University of Cape Town , Observatory , 7925 , Cape Town , South Africa
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Chikutsa A, Ncube AC, Mutsau S. Association between wanting circumcision and risky sexual behaviour in Zimbabwe: evidence from the 2010-11 Zimbabwe demographic and health survey. Reprod Health 2015; 12:15. [PMID: 25889318 PMCID: PMC4364469 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-015-0001-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zimbabwe adopted voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) as an additional HIV prevention strategy in 2009. A number of studies have been conducted to understand the determinants of VMMC uptake but few studies have examined the characteristics of men who are willing to get circumcised or the link between wanting circumcision and risky sexual behaviour. This study investigated the relationship between wanting male circumcision and engaging in risky sex behaviours. This was based on the assumption that those who are willing to undergo circumcision are already engaging in risky sexual behaviours. DATA AND METHODS Data from men age 15-45 years who were interviewed during the 2010-11 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey of 2010-11 was used. A total of 7480 men were included in the sample for this study. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between wanting circumcision and risky sexual behaviours. FINDINGS Men in the highest wealth tercile were significantly more likely to want circumcision compared to men in lower wealth terciles (OR=1.36, p<0.01). Wanting circumcision was also significantly associated with age. Men in the 25-34 age category reported wanting circumcision more (OR=1.21, p < 0.05) while older men were significantly less likely to want circumcision (OR=0.63, p<0.01). Christian men and those residing in rural areas were also less likely to want circumcision (OR=0.74, p<0.05 and OR = 0.75, p < 0.001 respectively). The findings of this study indicate a strong association between wanting circumcision and having had risky sex (OR=1.36, p<0.01), having multiple partners (OR=1.35, p<0.01) and having paid for sex (OR=1.42, p < 0.001) However, wanting circumcision was negatively associated with having used a condom at the last risky sex (OR=0.76, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The association between demand for VMMC and risky sexual behaviour need continuous monitoring. We emphasise that the promotion of VMMC for HIV prevention should not overshadow the promotion of existing methods of HIV prevention such as condoms and reduction of sexual partners.
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Pascoe SJS, Langhaug LF, Mavhu W, Hargreaves J, Jaffar S, Hayes R, Cowan FM. Poverty, food insufficiency and HIV infection and sexual behaviour among young rural Zimbabwean women. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0115290. [PMID: 25625868 PMCID: PMC4307980 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite a recent decline, Zimbabwe still has the fifth highest adult HIV prevalence in the world at 14.7%; 56% of the population are currently living in extreme poverty. Design Cross-sectional population-based survey of 18–22 year olds, conducted in 30 communities in south-eastern Zimbabwe in 2007. Objective To examine whether the risk of HIV infection among young rural Zimbabwean women is associated with socio-economic position and whether different socio-economic domains, including food sufficiency, might be associated with HIV risk in different ways. Methods Eligible participants completed a structured questionnaire and provided a finger-prick blood sample tested for antibodies to HIV and HSV-2. The relationship between poverty and HIV was explored for three socio-economic domains: ability to afford essential items; asset wealth; food sufficiency. Analyses were performed to examine whether these domains were associated with HIV infection or risk factors for infection among young women, and to explore which factors might mediate the relationship between poverty and HIV. Results 2593 eligible females participated in the survey and were included in the analyses. Overall HIV prevalence among these young females was 7.7% (95% CI: 6.7–8.7); HSV-2 prevalence was 11.2% (95% CI: 9.9–12.4). Lower socio-economic position was associated with lower educational attainment, earlier marriage, increased risk of depression and anxiety disorders and increased reporting of higher risk sexual behaviours such as earlier sexual debut, more and older sexual partners and transactional sex. Young women reporting insufficient food were at increased risk of HIV infection and HSV-2. Conclusions This study provides evidence from Zimbabwe that among young poor women, economic need and food insufficiency are associated with the adoption of unsafe behaviours. Targeted structural interventions that aim to tackle social and economic constraints including insufficient food should be developed and evaluated alongside behaviour and biomedical interventions, as a component of HIV prevention programming and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie J. S. Pascoe
- Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa F. Langhaug
- Centre for Sexual Health & HIV Research, Royal Free & University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom
| | - Webster Mavhu
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - James Hargreaves
- Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shabbar Jaffar
- Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Hayes
- Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frances M. Cowan
- Centre for Sexual Health & HIV Research, Royal Free & University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
- * E-mail:
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Maughan-Brown B, Kenyon C, Lurie MN. Partner age differences and concurrency in South Africa: Implications for HIV-infection risk among young women. AIDS Behav 2014; 18:2469-76. [PMID: 25047687 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-014-0828-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Partner-age difference is an HIV-risk factor among young women in Africa, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We used nationally representative data among black South Africans (men: 3,530; women: 3,946) to examine the proportion of women in partnerships involving male partner concurrency by age of female partners and by age-disparate (≥5 years) partnerships. Of all partners reported by men, 35 % of young (16-24) women were in partnerships involving male partner concurrency of 4 weeks or longer during the past 12 months. Young women in age-disparate partnerships were more likely to be in partnerships with men who had other concurrent partners (9 %; OR 1.88 p < 0.01) and more likely to be connected to an older sexual network. Our results suggest that the relationship between male concurrency and age-disparate relationships may increase HIV risk for young women by connecting them to larger and older sexual networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Maughan-Brown
- Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU), University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa,
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High prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a remote, undertreated population of Namibian pastoralists. Epidemiol Infect 2014; 142:2422-32. [PMID: 25267407 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268813003488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The highly remote pastoralist communities in Kaokoland, Namibia, have long been presumed to have high gonorrhoea prevalence. To estimate gonorrhoea prevalence and correlates of infection, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 446 adults across 28 rural villages. Gonorrhoea status was determined from urethral and vaginal swabs via qPCR assay. All participants answered a closed-ended interview about demographics, sexual behaviour and symptom history. Sixteen per cent of participants had high-level infections (⩾ID(50) dose) and 48% had low-level infections (<ID(50) dose). Women had higher prevalence than men of both high- and low-level infections. High-level infections were regionally and seasonally clustered, occurring in young adults in the Ehama region during the winter. Low-level infections were distributed homogenously across demographic characteristics, season, and region. All low-level infections and most high-level infections (men 78%, women 95%) were asymptomatic and left untreated. The epidemic-like nature of high-level gonorrhoea cases suggests that intervention efforts can be focused on seasons of high social activity.
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Hazel A, Foxman B, Low BS. Herpes simplex virus type 2 among mobile pastoralists in northwestern Namibia. Ann Hum Biol 2014; 42:543-51. [PMID: 25387244 DOI: 10.3109/03014460.2014.970575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) epidemiology has been described for many western and/or urban populations, disease burden has not been characterized for remote, non-western, under treated populations, where patterns of risk and vulnerability may be very different. AIMS To understand demographic, behavioural and geographic influences on risk for HSV-2 in a population of mobile, rural pastoralists in northwestern Namibia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of reproductively aged adults (n = 445) across 28 villages in Kaokoveld, Namibia. All participants completed a questionnaire of demographic data, ecological interactions and sexual behaviour, and a rapid test specific for HSV-2. RESULTS HSV-2 status was significantly associated with being female (OR = 3.1, 95% CI = 2.00, 4.71), increasing age (men: OR = 7.5, 95% CI = 2.67, 20.85; women: OR = 6.2, 95% CI = 2.48, 15.50) and with higher wealth among men (OR = 5.1, 95% CI = 1.98, 13.09). CONCLUSIONS Higher risk among women can be explained, in part, by local hygiene practices and a preference for "dry" sex. There was considerable variation in prevalence by region, which appears to be linked to geographic remoteness. Culturally contextualized epidemiologic studies of remote, vulnerable populations can provide essential information for limiting the introduction and spread of new infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Hazel
- a School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA .,b Department of Anthropology , Stanford University , Stanford , CA , USA , and
| | - Betsy Foxman
- c School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
| | - Bobbi S Low
- a School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
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Abstract
This study uses data from the 2004-05 Tanzanian Demographic and Health Survey to examine whether men's traditional gender role attitudes contribute to their sexual risk behaviours for HIV. Logistic regression with random effects were used to analyze effects on risk behaviours at last sex (partners being drunk and condom use) with the three most recent sexual relationships. Men's traditional gender attitudes increased risky sexual behaviours (e.g., not using a condom) even when they had accurate knowledge regarding HIV risks. The impact of men's gender attitudes and HIV knowledge on risky sexual behaviours did not vary by relationship type. Unexpectedly, condom use was more likely when either partner was drunk compared to neither being drunk, though the protective impact of HIV knowledge remained. Overall, these findings suggest that traditional gender attitudes present barriers to preventing HIV/AIDS that even increased knowledge about HIV risks may not overcome.
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Mishra S, Pickles M, Blanchard JF, Moses S, Shubber Z, Boily MC. Validation of the modes of transmission model as a tool to prioritize HIV prevention targets: a comparative modelling analysis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e101690. [PMID: 25014543 PMCID: PMC4090151 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The static Modes of Transmission (MOT) model predicts the annual fraction of new HIV infections acquired across subgroups (MOT metric), and is used to focus HIV prevention. Using synthetic epidemics via a dynamical model, we assessed the validity of the MOT metric for identifying epidemic drivers (behaviours or subgroups that are sufficient and necessary for HIV to establish and persist), and the potential consequence of MOT-guided policies. Methods and Findings To generate benchmark MOT metrics for comparison, we simulated three synthetic epidemics (concentrated, mixed, and generalized) with different epidemic drivers using a dynamical model of heterosexual HIV transmission. MOT metrics from generic and complex MOT models were compared against the benchmark, and to the contribution of epidemic drivers to overall HIV transmission (cumulative population attributable fraction over t years, PAFt). The complex MOT metric was similar to the benchmark, but the generic MOT underestimated the fraction of infections in epidemic drivers. The benchmark MOT metric identified epidemic drivers early in the epidemics. Over time, the MOT metric did not identify epidemic drivers. This was not due to simplified MOT models or biased parameters but occurred because the MOT metric (irrespective of the model used to generate it) underestimates the contribution of epidemic drivers to HIV transmission over time (PAF5–30). MOT-directed policies that fail to reach epidemic drivers could undermine long-term impact on HIV incidence, and achieve a similar impact as random allocation of additional resources. Conclusions Irrespective of how it is obtained, the MOT metric is not a valid stand-alone tool to identify epidemic drivers, and has limited additional value in guiding the prioritization of HIV prevention targets. Policy-makers should use the MOT model judiciously, in combination with other approaches, to identify epidemic drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharmistha Mishra
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
- St. Michael's Hospital, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Michael Pickles
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - James F. Blanchard
- Centre for Global Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Stephen Moses
- Centre for Global Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Zara Shubber
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marie-Claude Boily
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
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Kenyon C, Colebunders R, Voeten H, Lurie M. Migration intensity has no effect on peak HIV prevalence: an ecological study. BMC Infect Dis 2014; 14:350. [PMID: 24961725 PMCID: PMC4094477 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Correctly identifying the determinants of generalized HIV epidemics is crucial to bringing down ongoing high HIV incidence in these countries. High rates of migration are believed to be an important determinant of HIV prevalence. This study has two aims. Firstly, it evaluates the ecological association between levels of internal and international migration and national peak HIV prevalence using thirteen variables from a variety of sources to capture various aspects of internal and international migration intensity. Secondly, it examines the relationship between circular migration and HIV at an individual and population-level in South Africa. Methods Linear regression was used to analyze the association between the various measures of migration intensity and peak national HIV prevalence for 141 countries and HIV prevalence by province and ethnic group in South Africa. Results No evidence of a positive ecological association between national migration intensity and HIV prevalence was found. This remained the case when the analyses were limited to the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. On the whole, countries with generalized HIV epidemics had lower rates of internal and external migration. Likewise, no association was found between migration and HIV positivity at an individual or group-level in South Africa. Conclusion These results do not support the thesis that migration measured at the country level plays a significant role in determining peak HIV prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Kenyon
- Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Lakew Y, Tamene H. HIV related risk behaviours among taxi drivers and their assistants in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: descriptive cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health 2014; 14:330. [PMID: 24712295 PMCID: PMC4233637 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2013] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Risk taking behaviours in relation to HIV among the mobile population is a growing public health concern in many developing countries, including Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to describe risky sexual behaviours and associated factors among male taxi drivers and assistants in Addis Ababa. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional survey design with multistage cluster sampling procedure was employed to select 615 individuals for interview. Results Seventy six percent of the respondents were sexually active. Nearly 31% of the respondents reported casual sex and 7% of them did not use a condom with their most recent casual sex partner. More than half (58.5%) of the respondents had no condom use efficacy. Condom breakage and/or slippage during sex had been encountered by 44% of respondents with casual partners and sex during menstruation had ever occurred among 17% of respondents. Eleven percent had experienced sex with female sex workers. Thirty-three percent of the respondents were unfaithful to their spouse/steady partners. Multivariate analysis revealed that living with parents [AOR 95% CI; 2(1.14-3.60)], non-khat chewers [AOR 95% CI; 3.7(2.13-6.31)], never taken VCT [AOR 95% CI; 3.5(1.84-6.72)], middle-class monthly cash gain [AOR 95% CI; 0.5(0.25-0.98)] and more years of experience working on a taxi [AOR 95% CI; 0.17(0.60-0.47)] were statistically significant to influence lifetime abstinence. Non-khat chewers [AOR 95% CI; 0.53(0.37-0.78)], never taken VCT [AOR 95% CI; 0.54(0.36-0.88)] and higher monthly cash gain [AOR 95% CI; 2.9(1.14-7.19)] had a statistically significant association with condom use efficacy. Living with parents [AOR 95% CI; 2(1.31-3.72)], living with friends [AOR 95% CI; 6.4(3.13-12.89)] and non-khat chewers [AOR 95% CI; 2(1.34-3.53)] were risk factors found to be associated with faithfulness. Conclusions Risky sexual behaviours in this sub-population were considerable and associated factors were found to be multidimensional. Therefore, there is a need for robust intervention strategies such as tailored serial radio program targeting taxi drivers and their assistants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihunie Lakew
- Ethiopian Public Health Association, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Tanser F, de Oliveira T, Maheu-Giroux M, Bärnighausen T. Concentrated HIV subepidemics in generalized epidemic settings. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2014; 9:115-25. [PMID: 24356328 PMCID: PMC4228373 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW A relatively neglected topic to date has been the occurrence of concentrated epidemics within generalized epidemic settings and the potential role of targeted interventions in such settings. We review recent studies in high-risk groups as well as findings relating to geographical heterogeneity and the potential for targeting 'high-transmission zones' in the 10 countries with highest HIV prevalence. RECENT FINDINGS Our review of recent studies confirmed earlier findings that, even in the context of generalized epidemics, MSM have a substantially higher prevalence than the general population. Estimates of prevalence of HIV among people who inject drugs (PWID) in sub-Saharan African countries are rarely available and, when they are, often outdated. We identified recent studies of sex workers in Kenya and Uganda. In all three cases - MSM, PWID, and sex workers - HIV prevalence estimates are mostly based on convenience. Moreover, good estimates of the total size of these populations are not available. Our review of recent studies of high-risk populations defined on the basis of geography showed high levels of both new and existing infections in Kenya (slums), South Africa (peri-urban communities), and Uganda (fishing villages). SUMMARY Recent empirical findings combined with evidence from phylogenetic studies and supported by mathematical models provide a clear rationale for testing the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of targeted HIV prevention approaches in hyperendemic populations to supplement measures aimed at the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Tanser
- Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, SA
| | - Tulio de Oliveira
- Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, SA
| | - Mathieu Maheu-Giroux
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, USA
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, SA
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, USA
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HIV incidence and factors associated with seroconversion in a rural community home based counseling and testing program in Eastern Uganda. AIDS Behav 2014; 18 Suppl 1:S60-8. [PMID: 23695518 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-013-0502-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
We estimated HIV incidence and identified risk factors for seroconversion following a rural community home based HIV counseling and testing program in Uganda. We analyzed data from two rounds of testing at least a year apart. Of 19,401 initially seronegative participants, 106 seroconverted in Round 2. Overall HIV incidence was 0.55 per 100 person years (95 % CI: 0.45 -0.66) with no gender difference. Among men, being widowed or divorced (aRR 4.4), and having HIV related symptoms (aRR 11.5) were associated with seroconversion; having primary level education (aRR 0.2) was protective. Among women, being aged 35-59 years (aRR 2.3) and having HIV related symptoms (aRR 9.2) were associated with seroconversion; having couples' posttest counseling in Round 1 (aRR 0.4) was protective. HIV incidence is lower than estimates from elsewhere in Uganda. Nevertheless, focused prevention programs are still needed, targeting previously married men and older women, and including couples' counseling.
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Kenyon CR, Buyze J. Correlation between National Peak HIV Prevalence and Concurrency, STI Treatment Capability, Condom Use and Circumcision: An Ecological Study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.4236/wja.2014.42030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Is the risk of HIV acquisition increased during and immediately after pregnancy? A secondary analysis of pooled HIV community-based studies from the ALPHA network. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82219. [PMID: 24386091 PMCID: PMC3873249 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies of HIV acquisition in pregnancy have been in specific population groups, such as sero-discordant couples which have shown an increased risk of HIV acquisition during pregnancy and studies of sexually active women where the results have been ambiguous. However these studies are unable to tell us what the overall impact of pregnancy is on HIV acquisition in the general population. METHODS Data from six community-based HIV cohorts were pooled to give 2,628 sero-conversions and a total of 178,000 person years of observation. Multiple imputation was used to allow for the uncertainty of exact sero-conversion date in surveillance intervals greater than the length of a pregnancy. Results were combined using Rubin's rules to give appropriate error bounds. The analysis was stratified into two periods: pre- and post- widespread availability of prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission services. This allows us to assess whether there is reporting bias relating to a person's knowledge of their own HIV status which would become more widespread in the latter time period. RESULTS Results suggest that women while pregnant have a lower risk of acquiring HIV infection over all periods (HRR 0.79, 95%CI 0.70-0.89) than women who were not pregnant. There is no evidence for a difference in the rate of HIV acquisition between postpartum and non-pregnant women (HRR 0.92 95%CI 0.84-1.03). DISCUSSION Although there may be immunological reasons for increased risk of HIV acquisition during pregnancy, at a population level this study indicates a lower risk of HIV acquisition for pregnant women. Pregnant women may be more likely to be concordant with their current sexual partner than non-pregnant women, i.e. either already HIV positive prior to the pregnancy or if negative at the time of becoming pregnant more likely to have a negative partner.
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Sabbe A, Oulami H, Zekraoui W, Hikmat H, Temmerman M, Leye E. Determinants of child and forced marriage in Morocco: stakeholder perspectives on health, policies and human rights. BMC INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS 2013; 13:43. [PMID: 24131501 PMCID: PMC3853335 DOI: 10.1186/1472-698x-13-43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 09/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Morocco, the social and legal framework surrounding sexual and reproductive health has transformed greatly in the past decade, especially with the introduction of the new Family Law or Moudawana. Yet, despite raising the minimum age of marriage for girls and stipulating equal rights in the family, child and forced marriage is widespread. The objective of this research study was to explore perspectives of a broad range of professionals on factors that contribute to the occurrence of child and forced marriage in Morocco. METHODS A qualitative approach was used to generate both primary and secondary data for the analysis. Primary data consist of individual semi-structured interviews that were conducted with 22 professionals from various sectors: health, legal, education, NGO's and government. Sources of secondary data include academic papers, government and NGO reports, various legal documents and media reports. Data were analyzed using thematic qualitative analysis. RESULTS Four major themes arose from the data, indicating that the following elements contribute to child and forced marriage: (1) the legal and social divergence in conceptualizing forced and child marriage; (2) the impact of legislation; (3) the role of education; and (4) the economic factor. Emphasis was especially placed on the new Family Code or Moudawana as having the greatest influence on advancement of women's rights in the sphere of marriage. However, participants pointed out that embedded patriarchal attitudes and behaviours limit its effectiveness. CONCLUSION The study provided a comprehensive understanding of the factors that compound the problem of child and forced marriage in Morocco. From the viewpoint of professionals, who are closely involved in tackling the issue, policy measures and the law have the greatest potential to bring child and forced marriage to a halt. However, the implementation of new legal tools is facing barriers and resistance. Additionally, the legal and policy framework should go hand in hand with both education and increased economic opportunities. Education and awareness-raising of all ages is considered essential, seeing that parents and the extended family play a huge role in marrying off girls and young women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Sabbe
- ICRH - International Centre for Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185 UZP114, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Behavioral, biological, and demographic risk and protective factors for new HIV infections among youth in Rakai, Uganda. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2013; 63:393-400. [PMID: 23535293 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0b013e3182926795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prevalence of HIV infection is considerable among youth, although data on risk factors for new (incident) infections are limited. We examined incidence of HIV infection and risk and protective factors among youth in rural Uganda, including the role of gender and social transitions. METHODS Participants were sexually experienced youth (15-24 years old) enrolled in the Rakai Community Cohort Study, 1999-2008 (n = 6741). Poisson regression with robust standard errors was used to estimate incident rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of incident HIV infection. RESULTS HIV incidence was greater among young women than young men (14.1 vs. 8.3 per 1000 person-years, respectively); this gender disparity was greater among teenagers (14.9 vs. 3.6). Beyond behavioral (multiple partners and concurrency) and biological factors (sexually transmitted infection symptoms), social transitions such as marriage and staying in school influenced HIV risk. In multivariate analyses among women, HIV incidence was associated with living in a trading village (adjusted IRR (aIRR) = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.11), being a student (aIRR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.72), current marriage (aIRR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.81), former marriage (aIRR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.96), having multiple partners, and sexually transmitted infection symptoms. Among men, new infections were associated with former marriage (aIRR = 5.57; 95% CI: 2.51 to 12.36), genital ulceration (aIRR = 3.56; 95% CI: 1.97 to 6.41), and alcohol use (aIRR = 2.08; 95% CI: 1.15 to 3.77). CONCLUSIONS During the third decade of the HIV epidemic in Uganda, HIV incidence remains considerable among youth, with young women particularly at risk. The risk for new infections was strongly shaped by social transitions such as leaving school, entrance into marriage, and marital dissolution; the impact of marriage was different for young men than women.
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Kirakoya-Samadoulougou F, Nagot N, Yaro S, Fao P, Defer MC, Ilboudo F, Langani Y, Meda N, Robert A. Are teachers at higher risk of HIV infection than the general population in Burkina Faso? Int J STD AIDS 2013; 24:651-9. [PMID: 23970579 DOI: 10.1177/0956462413479896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In order to assess the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence among teachers in Burkina Faso, we carried out a national survey in 336 primary and secondary schools from urban and rural areas. Among 2088 teachers who agreed to participate, 1498 (71.7%) provided urine for HIV testing. The crude prevalence of HIV among teachers was 2.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0-3.6), with no difference between teachers from primary schools (2.9%, 95%CI: 2.1-4.0) and those from secondary schools (2.5%, 95%CI: 0.5-4.5). Age- and area-standardized HIV prevalence was 1.0% (95%CI: 0.4-1.2) in male teachers, 2.5 times lower than among men in the general population (as assessed from a concomitant Demographic Health Survey), and it was 3.5% (95%CI: 2.5-5.2) in female teachers, 1.7 times higher than in Demographic Health Survey women. This finding calls for the implementation of specific HIV prevention programmes in the education sector targeting women more specifically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fati Kirakoya-Samadoulougou
- Pôle Epidémiologie et Biostatistique, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Faculté de Santé Publique (FSP), Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), Bruxelles, Belgique
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