AEGiS-05IAC: HIV seroprevalence in Hispanic amnesty applicants at a sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic, Los Angeles, California, 1988.

5th International AIDS Conference

Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Jun 4-9, 1989

HIV seroprevalence in Hispanic amnesty applicants at a sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic, Los Angeles, California, 1988.

Int Conf AIDS 1989 Jun 4-9; 5:165 (abstract no. A.528)
Nahlen B, Kerndt P, Ford W, Johnson M, Waterman S; Centers for Disease Control, GA, USA

OBJECTIVE: To estimate and compare HIV antibody (Ab) seroprevalence in undocumented Hispanics seeking legal amnesty with that of other Hispanics attending the same STD clinic.

METHODS: Amnesty applicants must prove residence in the USA since Jan. 1, 1982, and undergo HIVAb testing. Repeat ELISA positives are confirmed by immunofluorescent antibody (IFA). Medical charts of all 324 Hispanic amnesty applicants seen at one county STD clinic between Feb. 1-Aug. 31 were reviewed for HIVAb status, demographic characteristics, risk factors, and history of other STDs. HIVAb prevalence in a consecutive sample of 555 non-amnesty Hispanics undergoing confidential or blinded testing in the same clinic was also determined.

RESULTS: Amnesty: Males were more likely than females to refuse testing; 87 (51%) of 171 males and 37 (67%) of 55 females accepted. Fifteen percent (18/124) of all tests were HIVAb positive. No females were seropositive. The seropositivity rate for males was 21% (18/87): 61% (11/18) were homosexual and 39% (7/18) were bisexual; none had a history of intravenous drug use or blood transfusion. Non-amnesty: 7% (13/186) of Hispanics who accepted confidential testing were HIVAb positive; 5% (20/369) of sera submitted for blinded testing were HIVAb positive. Amnesty applicants were more likely to be HIVAb positive than other Hispanics in this population (p=0.001; Relative Risk 2.44, 95% CI 1.42, 4.19).

CONCLUSION: Prevalence of HIVAb and risk factors for infection in undocumented Hispanic immigrants to the USA is poorly understood. The seropositivity rate for both groups of Hispanics attending this STD clinic is unexpectedly high. Although no seropositive females were identified in the amnesty group, the high proportion of bisexual seropositive males indicates the potential for heterosexual transmission. Legalization of amnesty applicants provides an opportunity to target more effective education and intervention strategies to this high-risk group.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Seroprevalence, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Hispanic Americans, Los Angeles, California, Ambulatory Care Facilities, Bisexuality, Homosexuality, Risk Factors, HIV Antibodies, Prevalence, Human, Female, Male, ICA5

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A528