Saidi Kapiga1,2, Christian H Hansen3,4, Jennifer A Downs5,6, Simon Sichalwe1, Ramadhan Hashim1, Julius Mngara7, Govert J van Dam8, Paul L A M Corstjens9, Justin R Kingery5,6, Robert N Peck1,5,6, Heiner Grosskurth1,4. 1. Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania. 2. Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. 3. MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda. 4. MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. 5. Department of Medicine, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Mwanza, Tanzania. 6. Center for Global Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA. 7. National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania. 8. Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands. 9. Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To quantify the burden of HIV, syphilis and schistosome infection and associated risk factors among adults living in seven fishing communities of Lake Victoria in northwest Tanzania. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted between 2015 and 2016 in the selected communities. In each community, we randomly selected a sample of adults from the general population and from three putative risk groups including the following: (i) fishermen, (ii) fish processors and traders, and (iii) women working in the recreational facilities. Participants were interviewed to obtain information about potential risk factors, and venous blood was collected for detection of HIV, syphilis and schistosome infections. We used logistic regression models to quantify the associations between potential risk factors and HIV, and also between schistosome infection and HIV. RESULTS: We enrolled 1128 people from selected fishing communities. The overall prevalence of HIV, syphilis and schistosome infection was 14.2%, 15.6% and 83.1%, respectively. Female recreational facility workers had the highest prevalence of HIV (30.4%) and syphilis (24%). The odds of being HIV infected were generally higher in all age categories. Transactional sex was commonly reported and especially receiving gifts for sex was found to be strongly associated with HIV (adjusted OR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.44-4.34, P = 0.008). Confirmed serological syphilis was associated with increased odds of having HIV infection. HIV was not associated with schistosome infection in a combined dataset and when we examined this separately for men and women alone. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high burden of HIV, syphilis and schistosome infections in the fishing communities. Targeted efforts to treat and control infections have the potential to improve health among their residents.
OBJECTIVES: To quantify the burden of HIV, syphilis and schistosome infection and associated risk factors among adults living in seven fishing communities of Lake Victoria in northwest Tanzania. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted between 2015 and 2016 in the selected communities. In each community, we randomly selected a sample of adults from the general population and from three putative risk groups including the following: (i) fishermen, (ii) fish processors and traders, and (iii) women working in the recreational facilities. Participants were interviewed to obtain information about potential risk factors, and venous blood was collected for detection of HIV, syphilis and schistosome infections. We used logistic regression models to quantify the associations between potential risk factors and HIV, and also between schistosome infection and HIV. RESULTS: We enrolled 1128 people from selected fishing communities. The overall prevalence of HIV, syphilis and schistosome infection was 14.2%, 15.6% and 83.1%, respectively. Female recreational facility workers had the highest prevalence of HIV (30.4%) and syphilis (24%). The odds of being HIV infected were generally higher in all age categories. Transactional sex was commonly reported and especially receiving gifts for sex was found to be strongly associated with HIV (adjusted OR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.44-4.34, P = 0.008). Confirmed serological syphilis was associated with increased odds of having HIV infection. HIV was not associated with schistosome infection in a combined dataset and when we examined this separately for men and women alone. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high burden of HIV, syphilis and schistosome infections in the fishing communities. Targeted efforts to treat and control infections have the potential to improve health among their residents.
Authors: Amy S Sturt; Emily L Webb; Comfort R Phiri; Maina Mudenda; Joyce Mapani; Barry Kosloff; Maina Cheeba; Kwame Shanaube; Justin Bwalya; Eyrun F Kjetland; Suzanna C Francis; Paul L A M Corstjens; Govert J van Dam; Lisette van Lieshout; Isaiah Hansingo; Helen Ayles; Richard J Hayes; Amaya L Bustinduy Journal: Open Forum Infect Dis Date: 2021-06-30 Impact factor: 3.835