Ermias Habte1, Alemeshet Yami1, Fissahye Alemseged2, Yishak Abdissa1, Kebede Deribe3, Peter Memiah4, Sibhatu Biadgilign5. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Jimma University, College of Public Health and Medical Science, Ethiopia. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jimma University, College of Public Health and Medical Science, Ethiopia. 3. Department of General Public Health, Jimma University, College of Public Health and Medical Science, Ethiopia. 4. Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA. 5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jimma University, College of Public Health and Medical Science, Ethiopia sibhatu2005@yahoo.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: With transmission of HIV occurring mainly through heterosexual contact, it is paramount to identify serodiscordant couples and implement preventive strategies that will protect the negative partner. The burden of serodiscordance and its predictors in Ethiopia is not clearly understood due to the dearth of data. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and predictors of HIV serodiscordance among couples tested in Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH) Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) center. METHODS: The study employed a case-control study design conducted at VCT center of JUSH in all registered serodiscordant couples and seroconcordant couples that were selected from the registered clients in the period from 2003 to 2010. A pretested structured questionnaire was used for data collection using medical chart abstraction. Data were entered, cleaned, and coded using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. RESULTS: The prevalence of serodiscordance in the study population was found to be 8.4%. Male and female discordants accounted for 5.8% (137) and 2.6% (62), respectively. Rare use of condom (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 7.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.59-32.54) and active tuberculosis (TB) at enrollment (AOR= 17.7; 95% CI = 2.3-139.2) were significantly found to be the predictors of serodiscordance. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of serodiscordance in the study area was found to be low, but it contributes to a clinically significant population that mandates implementation of preventive strategy. Sero-positive individuals who use condoms rarely should be encouraged to have their partners tested, and the association between active TB and serodiscordance underscores the need for further study.
BACKGROUND: With transmission of HIV occurring mainly through heterosexual contact, it is paramount to identify serodiscordant couples and implement preventive strategies that will protect the negative partner. The burden of serodiscordance and its predictors in Ethiopia is not clearly understood due to the dearth of data. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and predictors of HIV serodiscordance among couples tested in Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH) Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) center. METHODS: The study employed a case-control study design conducted at VCT center of JUSH in all registered serodiscordant couples and seroconcordant couples that were selected from the registered clients in the period from 2003 to 2010. A pretested structured questionnaire was used for data collection using medical chart abstraction. Data were entered, cleaned, and coded using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. RESULTS: The prevalence of serodiscordance in the study population was found to be 8.4%. Male and female discordants accounted for 5.8% (137) and 2.6% (62), respectively. Rare use of condom (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 7.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.59-32.54) and active tuberculosis (TB) at enrollment (AOR= 17.7; 95% CI = 2.3-139.2) were significantly found to be the predictors of serodiscordance. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of serodiscordance in the study area was found to be low, but it contributes to a clinically significant population that mandates implementation of preventive strategy. Sero-positive individuals who use condoms rarely should be encouraged to have their partners tested, and the association between active TB and serodiscordance underscores the need for further study.
Authors: David Paul Ngilangwa; Rhoune Ochako; Beati Alphonce Mboya; Rita Honoratha Noronha; George Suleman Mgomella Journal: Pan Afr Med J Date: 2015-11-23
Authors: Daniel W Gunda; Simon C Maganga; Igembe Nkandala; Semvua B Kilonzo; Bonaventura C Mpondo; Elichilia R Shao; Samwel E Kalluvya Journal: Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol Date: 2018-07-04 Impact factor: 2.471