Risk Factors Associated with Prevalent HIV-1 Infection among Pregnant Women in Rwanda

Abstract

This study evaluated risk factors associated with prevalent HIV-1 infection among pregnant women in a semi-rural but densely populated area surrounding the town of Butare in Rwanda. Overall seroprevalence was 9.3% in 5690 pregnant women who sought antenatal care at one of five health centres. Factors associated with higher seroprevalence of HIV-1 included history of multiple sexual partners, history of at least one sexually transmitted disease (STD), relatively high socioeconomic status (SES), being unmarried, young age at first pregnancy, and low gravidity. Women who had used oral contraceptives, smoked more than one cigarette per day, whose partners were circumcised, and had had sex to support themselves were also at higher risk of being infected. A history of blood transfusion in the past 5 years was not associated with HIV-1 infection. History of multiple sexual partners, history of STD, high household income, partner circumcision, and past oral contraceptive use remained strongly associated with HIV-1 infection even when simultaneously controlling for other covariates. Among legally married women who lacked sexual behaviour risk factors, history of STD, high SES, young age at first pregnancy, and low gravidity were significantly associated with HIV-1 seroprevalence.

Prevalence and indicators of HIV and AIDS among adults admitted to medical and surgical wards in Blantyre, Malawi

“…As found elsewhere, seroprevalence rose with increased education [Dallabetta et al, 1993, Chao et al, 1994, and in urban patients [Mnyika et al, 1994]. We found that living with a sexual partner at present, having been divorced ever, and if aged under 40 being widowed, were all associated with HIV infection.…”

Placental Malaria and Mother-to-Child Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 in Rural Rwanda

“…All women were offered HIV-1 antibody testing during their first prenatal visit; HIV prevalence was 9.3% overall. 16 Cohort enrollment procedures have been described elsewhere. 17,18 Women were enrolled in the cohort at the second prenatal visit (median, 32 completed weeks of gestation) and encouraged to deliver at one of two maternity wards serving the region.…”

A critique of international indicators of sexual risk behaviour

“…[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] There are undoubtedly many more studies of this sort in the grey literature. Six papers are from Uganda, two based on the Masaka cohort 14 22 and four on the Rakai intervention trial subjects.…”