Fourteen years of surveillance of HIV-1 prevalence among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in western Uganda.

This study monitored long-term temporal trends in HIV-1 prevalence in antenatal clinic attendees living in western Uganda. Semi-annual data collection was done from 1991 to 2004. For each woman the following data were recorded: HIV-1 status, age, educational status, marital status, occupation and parity. The results show that the overall HIV-1 prevalence was 15.3% during the entire time period (urban 21.3%, semi-urban 12.7% and rural 7.1%). Between 1991 and 2004, we observed a gradual decline in the HIV-1 prevalence. The decline was most pronounced in urban women aged 15-19 years old and least pronounced in rural women aged 20-24 years. Women above 25 years of age did not show any decline in HIV-1 prevalence over time. The declining HIV-1 prevalence in the younger age groups (15-24 years) likely represents a declining risk for acquiring HIV infection as we have previously shown in the urban sub-sample of this data set.