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. 2009 Jul 31;4(7):e6470.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006470.

HIV prevalence and associated risk factors among individuals aged 13-34 years in Rural Western Kenya

Pauli N Amornkul  1 , Hilde Vandenhoudt, Peter Nasokho, Frank Odhiambo, Dufton Mwaengo, Allen Hightower, Anne Buvé, Ambrose Misore, John Vulule, Charles Vitek, Judith Glynn, Alan Greenberg, Laurence Slutsker, Kevin M De Cock
Affiliations

HIV prevalence and associated risk factors among individuals aged 13-34 years in Rural Western Kenya

Pauli N Amornkul et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate HIV prevalence and characterize risk factors among young adults in Asembo, rural western Kenya.

Design: Community-based cross-sectional survey.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. HIV prevalence by sex and age-group, N = 1762.
Figure 2
Figure 2. HSV-2 prevalence by sex and age group, N = 1762.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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