HIV sero-prevalence among pregnant women in rural Artibonite Valley, Haiti.
Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. C10700)
Gabriel JG, Johanne PG, Vidya BV, Fritzgerald W. Daniel FW, Alexandra SA Hospital Albert Schweitzer, Port Au Prince, Haiti
Learning OBJECTIVES: Participants will review HIV sero-prevalence studies from 1996 and 2001 and examine implications. Background (Format I): An HIV sero-prevalence study performed in the Hospital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) District in 1996 found that 3.7% of pregnant women attending four health facilities were HIV positive. In the two facilities located in the plains, 4.7% of patients were HIV-sero-positive, and in the two facilities located in the mountains, 0.0% were sero-positive. Methodology (Format II): An unlinked and anonymous sero-prevalence study was conducted in 2001 using the same methodology as that for the 1996 study. Blood samples were collected from pregnant women at the time of their first prenatal visit. The samples were coded anonymously and tested for HIV infection using the Determine é « mmunoassay to detect antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2. The data from the two studies were then compared using Fisher's exact test. The mountain and plains populations were compared for the two study groups in 1996 and 2001. Results (Format I): In 2001, 3.9% of 768 blood samples were HIV positive, compared to 3.7% in 1996 (p > 0.05). The sero-prevalence in the plains area was 4.7%, and in the mountains it was 0.0% (P < 0.01). In 1996, the sero-prevalence in the plains was 4.6% and in the mountains it was 0.0%.
CONCLUSIONS: In the last five years there has been no change in the levels of HIV infection, nor has there been a change in the geographical distribution among these four health facilities. Strong HIV-prevention activities are needed in the plains and in the mountains of the Artibonite Valley in order to control this epidemic. Co- Authors: Dr. Johanne Preval, Vidya Bommi, Dr. Daniel W. Fitzgerald, Alexandra Smith
