HIV prevalence and associated risk factors among individuals aged 13-34 years in rural western
View/ Open
Date
2009Author
Amornkul, P.N
Vandenhoudt, H
Odhiambo, F,
Mwaengo, D
Juma, B
Ouma, J,
Nasokho, P
Rosen, D
Vulule, J
Vitek, C
Misore, A
Greenberg, A
Slutsker, L
De Cock, K.M
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
To estimate HIV prevalence and characterize risk factors among young adults in Asembo, rural western Kenya.
Community-based cross-sectional survey.
From a demographic surveillance system, we selected a random sample of residents aged 13-34 years, who were contacted at home and invited to a nearby mobile study site. Consent procedures for non-emancipated minors required assent and parental consent. From October 2003 - April 2004, consenting participants were interviewed on risk behavior and tested for HIV and HSV-2. HIV voluntary counseling and testing was offered.
Of 2606 eligible residents, 1822 (70%) enrolled. Primary reasons for refusal included not wanting blood taken, not wanting to learn HIV status, and partner/parental objection. Females comprised 53% of 1762 participants providing blood. Adjusted HIV prevalence was 15.4% overall: 20.5% among females and 10.2% among males. HIV prevalence was highest in women aged 25-29 years (36.5%) and men aged 30-34 years (41.1%). HSV-2 prevalence was 40.0% overall: 53% among females, 25.8% among males. In multivariate models stratified by gender and marital status, HIV infection was strongly associated with age, higher number of sex partners, widowhood, and HSV-2 seropositivity.
Asembo has extremely high HIV and HSV-2 prevalence, and probable high incidence, among young adults. Further research on circumstances around HIV acquisition in young women and novel prevention strategies (vaccines, microbicides, pre-exposure prophylaxis, HSV-2 prevention, etc.) are urgently needed.
Citation
PLoS One. 2009 Jul 31;4(7):e6470Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10377]