15th International AIDS Conference Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. ThOrC1424)

Saphonn V, Parekh BS, Dobbs T, Mean CV, Ly PS, Sopheab H, Detels R
National Center for HIV/AIDS Dermatology and STDs, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of HIV infection was used to monitor the HIV epidemic in Cambodia. Recently, a testing strategy which can differentiate recent from long-term HIV infection has become available. Incidence of HIV infection can then be estimated and dynamic of HIV epidemic Cambodia can be explored.

METHODS: All HIV positive specimens from four sentinel groups in 18 provinces participated in HIV sentinel surveillance program from 1999 to 2002, were tested using a peptide-based capture enzyme immunoassay (IgG BED-CEIA) to determine the prevalence of recent HIV infection. HIV incidence was then estimated from this later prevalence using a formula based on the known window period of the test.

RESULTS: the HIV incidence among commercial sex workers (CSWs) declined from 13.9% in 1999 to 6.45% in 2002. The HIV incidence among indirect sex workers (IDSWs) declined from 5.08% in 1999 to 2.87% in 2002. The HIV incidence among Police declined from 1.74% in 1999 to 0.26% in 2002. The HIV incidence among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic did not show any decline. This rate was 0.72% in 1999, 1.11% in 2000 and 0.59% in 2002.

CONCLUSIONS: HIV epidemic in Cambodia seems to be stabilizing. HIV incidence rate among three sentinel groups (CSWs, IDSWs and Police) were declining over the study period. However, the epidemic persists in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic.

040711
ThOrC1424

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