HIV infection in healthy persons in Uganda

Abstract

The results of several serological surveys, carried out in Uganda in the last 2 years, show that HIV infection is present in a number of different groups of individuals. There is a wide range of seropositivity (0 to 67.7%) seen within Uganda. In the sexually inactive, whether primary school pupils or residents of old people's homes, no serological evidence of HIV infection was found. In young adults in Kampala the HIV seropositivity ranged from 10.6 to 24.1%, whereas in rural adults the range was from 1.4 to 12.5%. Those with the greatest number of lifetime sexual partners had the highest rate of seropositivity, ranging from 32 to 67.7%. These rates are probably dependent on a number of factors, including sexuality.

PIP: Current levels of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in apparently healthy people in Uganda who represented groups considered to be at either high or low risk were examined through use of the competitive ELISA test. The following rates of seropositivity were recorded: barmaids (n=185), 67.7%; lorry drivers and turnboys (n=74), 32%; male blood donors (n=1370), 15%; female blood donors (n=214), 21%; sexual contacts of patients with AIDS (n=14), 71%; social contacts of AIDS patients (n=100), 2%; rural inhabitants of Mukono (n=289), 4.8%; rural inhabitants of West Nile (n=71), 1.4%; old people (n+96), 0%; and children (n=131), 0%. Among 1400 pregnant women tested in 3 areas, seroprevalence ranged from 10.6-24.1%. Overall, the highest rates of seroprevalence were found in those groups having the greatest numbers of sexual partners, e.g., barmaids or lorry drivers. This finding is consistent with the high rates of HIV infection recorded among prostitutes in neighboring African countries. Further evidence that HIV infection is associated with heterosexual activity is provided by the 71% seroprevalence rate among sexual partners of AIDS patients.