Risk factors of HIV infection among house-wives in Dar es Salaam.
Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. F11726)
Yomo TR Married, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
OBJECTIVES: Risk factors for HIV infection among house-wives not yet categorized as high-risk group in Dar es Salaam. -To assess level of education -To assess and verify preventive strategies which can be used to reach the house-wives in the homes. Backgrounds: House-wives are that group of female's engaged in household working/employed women. The house is their most working place. House-wives get up early, the first and go to bed late, the last. Have no mandate for decision making and this limit their economic autonomy and sometimes no appreciation are given to them. Like any other social female group, house-wives are vulnerable and prone to the throes of HIV infection - AIDS pandemic. Majority of them are now aware of it and knows most of the measures needed to be taken for the prevention. Studies have been conducted to indicate this. However further interventions are needed to check the speed of spread of the infection? This paper attempt to identify and edict contributing factors and briefly suggest measures to be taken in the home or households of families with house-wives.
METHODS: A cross-sectional case control study was conducted in Kinondoni District between January and May, 1996 in which 30 house-wives were interviewed and findings of this study revealed that the majority of them are aged between 20 - 45 years i.e. 5%. Many of them their background is previously rural and economicaly poor. The two factors prompted them to become inferior in decision making. Thus occassioning self-confusion and shock while in an effort to adapting themselves to the decision making equal to men. RECOMMENDATION: Hence a woman is fully partner in marriage. She is entitled to decide on matters concern her life and safety. This can reduce the risk of spread of HIV infection among house-wives as well as the number of orphans can be reduced.
Keywords: AEGIS, Risk Factors, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Spouses, Cross-Sectional Studies, Marriage, Housing, Human, Female, Male
