AEGiS-14IAC: HIV prevalence survey miners in the Zambian Copper Belt.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

HIV prevalence survey miners in the Zambian Copper Belt.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. C10660)

Evian CR, Wyk PV, Slotow SJ, Evian TD
AIDS Management and Support, Johannesburg, South Africa

Background and

METHODS: In 2001 an anonymous unlinked saliva based HIV prevalence survey was done in a major mining company in the Zambian copper belt region. In all 9024 employees were surveyed representing 55-88% of employees in the various divisions of the company.

RESULTS: HIV prevalence in the various sites ranged from 18.1% - 20.1% among permanent employees and 14.4% - 15.2% among contract employees. The higher overall prevalence in the permanent employees is largely due to the age difference between these two groups. Contract employees have a younger age profile compared to permanent employees and this accounts for the difference in prevalence.

CONCLUSIONS: The paper will present the process and methodology of the survey and the prevalence data stratified by age, gender and job category. The survey also highlights an encouragingly lower prevalence among the 18-24 year age groups which suggests that HIV prevention efforts are taking effect among the younger generation in the area. The value of doing such surveys, both for increasing awareness and interest in the disease, and for measuring and monitoring the epidemic in the workplace and as a tool for managing the problem in the company is highlighted in the survey. Surveys of this nature also provide useful information for the national surveillance programme and provide vital and much needed epidemiological information on men.

Keywords: AEGIS, Prevalence, HIV, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seroprevalence, Disease Outbreaks, Federal Government, Human, Male, epidemiology

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