HIV spreads fast in Africa. Women and children especially, are at high risk
Christenson, B.; Lundbergh, P.
Lakartidningen 91(22): 2255-2256
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-7205 PMID: 8052021 Document Number: 289620
The HIV situation in Africa was very dismal in 1994, with about 10 million people infected. The causes of the rapid spread were the high incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), urbanization, and breakup of families because of migrations, since men often seek work at other places. In the age group of 15-19 years in Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, there were 5 HIV-infected women for 1 infected man, but in the 30-39 year age group, there 3 infected men for every 1 woman. A report from Kenya showed that 69% of boys and 25% of girls were sexually active, while 50% had more than 4 partners. Among 15-24 year old pregnant women, 36% had STDs. A study from the Ivory Coast indicated that HIV prevalence increased from 27% in 1987 to 53% in 1992 among patients who were seeking care for an STD in Abidjan. Among tuberculosis (TB) patients this increased from 16% to 35%, and among pregnant women from 7% in 1987 to 14% in 1992. Another group, 745 prostitutes, were also studied in Abidjan. 48% were infected with HIV and 34% were infected both with HIV-1 and HIV-2. It is estimated that 50-75% of HIV-infected people in Africa also had STDs, compared to 20% of the HIV-infected in Thailand and India and 5% in Brazil. It has been proven in a US cohort study that the treatment of STDs reduces the spread of HIV. In Gambia, Rwanda, Zaire, and Kenya, 50-100% of gonococcal isolates were resistant to penicillin and tetracycline, and 40% of women with symptoms of STD infection did not receive adequate treatment. A study from England indicated that both HIV and TB follow the same epidemiological patterns among men 30-39 and among women 20-29 years old. In developing countries HIV is the main risk factor for developing TB. About 4-5 million people have TB as a cofactor for HIV infection, of whom 80% are in Africa. In 1994 about 3% of TB cases were associated with HIV, which will increase to 10% by the year 2000.