AEGiS-13IAC: Age-adjusted HIV-1 prevalence among pregnant women, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: sentinel surveillance, 1995-2000.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

Age-adjusted HIV-1 prevalence among pregnant women, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: sentinel surveillance, 1995-2000.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. ThOrC670)

Mekonnen Y, Tsegaye A, Rinke de Wit T, Beyene A, Fontanet A, Sanders E
Y. Mekonnen, PO Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tel.: +251 1 753 330, Fax: +251 1 756 329, E-mail: enarp@telecom.net.et

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women are often used as a sentinel population for HIV surveillance. However, age distribution differs between pregnant women and women of the general population, with more pregnant women in young adult age groups (e.g., 20-30 years), where HIV prevalence tends to be higher. We have studied the effect of standardisation for age on HIV prevalence estimates obtained from pregnant women of Addis Ababa (AA), Ethiopia.

METHODS: Blood samples were collected from antenatal clinic (ANC) attendants from 2 inner and 2 outer city health facilities in AA, during four rounds in 1995-2000. Unlinked anonymous HIV-1 testing was performed according to WHO guidelines, using two ELISA's and Western blot when ELISA results were discrepant. Direct standardisation was applied to adjust the observed HIV-1 prevalence rates based on the age distribution obtained in a community-based fertility survey in AA, 1995.

RESULTS: A total of 3051 ANC attendants were enrolled. Data will be presented by age group. Women (20-30 years) were significantly over represented compared to the community-based survey. Unadjusted HIV-1 prevalence rates for 1995, 96, 97, 2000 were 21.2% (n = 600), 17.9% (n = 1149), 18.6% (n = 1151), and 18.4% (n = 152; data collection ongoing), respectively, with an overall seroprevalence of 18.8%. The age-adjusted HIV-1 prevalence rates for the corresponding years were 16.1%, 15.4%, 14.8% and 15.2%, with an overall adjusted rate of 15.3%.

CONCLUSIONS: HIV-1 prevalence over the four-year period remained stable. In AA, adjusting for age decreased by 3% the HIV prevalence estimate obtained from pregnant women. A community-based survey to validate HIV-1 prevalence in AA is recommended.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV-1, Prevalence, Sentinel Surveillance, HIV Infections, HIV Seroprevalence, HIV, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Antibodies, Ethiopia, HIV Seronegativity, Data Collection, Age Distribution, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Pregnant Women, Human, Female, Adult, Pregnancy, epidemiology, immunology
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ThOrC670