A cross-sectional study of Human Immuoodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in a rural population in Rakai District. Serology and risk factors

Abstract

This study was conducted in Lyantonde, Rakai district, South Western Uganda, Uganda. Four hundred (400) study participants were enrolled for study. One hundred and eighty five (185) were high risk population, one hundred and twenty four (124) were medium risk population while ninety one (91) were children below age 15 yrs and above 2 years. These three study participants had a point prevalence of HIV Infection of 67% 17.7% and 1. 1% respectively. Most of respectively. Most of the study participants were symptoless . The most consistent feature of symptomless HIV infections was painless posterior cervical Lymphademopathy,which could easily be used as a screening sign. HIV Infection was associated very strongly with diarrhea, STDS, marital status. Marriage seemed to have a protective effect on HIV.The number of sexual contacts and number of injections were linearly related to HIV Infection mostly ln the high risk population. This will be very important ln health Education. There was no association found between HIV and blood transfusion, may be because the transfusion rate was low in this area. No association was found between HIV and HBV sero markers. The female to male ratio was averagely 1.2: 1. -These last two observations indicate that the main transmission route is heterosexual. In conclusion, health Education, Condom use, further research to understand the disease better, observation of sterility in hospitals and screening of blood before transfusion were recommended for control of HIV Infection