Assessment of Hiv Among Students of Highschools and Colleges Attending Clinics For Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Addis Ababa
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Date
1992-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
To assess the prevalence of the Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV) infection, the risk factors involved and the
association between HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs),
a cross - sectional study was conducted among highschool and
college students attending three clinics for STDs in Addis Ababa.
Out of 324 samples studied, 63(19%) were positive for antibodies to
HIV by Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and Western Blot
analysis. Among 214 students with STDs, 48(22%) were positive for
HIVantibodies. The seroprevalence rate for male students was 19%
(95% confidence interval, 14 to 26) and for the female students 22%
(95% confidence interval, 18 to 36). In addition, among 110
students without STD manifestations (controls), 15(14%) were
positive for HIV antibodies. Among these, the seroprevalence rate
for male students was 7% (95% confidence interval 1 to 13) and for
the female students, 25% (95% confidence interval, 12 to 38). In
both STD and non - STD smaples, highschool students had a higher
rate of HIV seropositivity than college students. Students with
STDs were more likely to be HIV seropositive than those without STD
manifestations. A current diagnosis of syphilis was associated
with HIV seropositivity among the total population of students
(odds ratio, 2.6; P < 0.00003); among the STD samples (odds ratio,
2.2; P < 0.009); among total female students with STDs (odds ratio, 6.93; P < 0.002) and among total highschool students with STDs
(odds ratio, 2.25; P < 0.01). A current diagnosis of chancroid was
associated with HIV seropositivity among the totai population of
students (odds ratio, 2.0; P < 0.01) and among male students with
STD cases (odds ratio, 2.38; P < 0.05). Mul tipartner sexual
contacts, lack of condom use, past STD history and current ST~
cases were found to be the risk factors for both syphilis and HIV
signif icantly, indicating that they are likely to be important
confounders and also indicating that the association between HIV
and syphilis can be influenced by these factors. The study finds
that HIV infection is present in highschools and colleges in Addis
Ababa at high rates and STDs usch as syphilis and chancroid are
associated with HIV transmission among the students.
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Biology