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. 2021 Sep 1;13(1):e2021055.
doi: 10.4084/MJHID.2021.055. eCollection 2021.

Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Factors Associated with HIV Status Among Vulnerable Women in Northern Uganda: Baseline Results from Pe Atye Kena Cohort Study

F V Segala  1   2 , G Micheli  2 , C Seguiti  1   2 , A Pierantozzi  3 , R Lukwiya  4 , B Odong  5 , F Aloi  6 , E Ochola  7 , R Cauda  1   2 , K De Gaetano Donati  1   2 , A Cingolani  1   2
Affiliations

Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Factors Associated with HIV Status Among Vulnerable Women in Northern Uganda: Baseline Results from Pe Atye Kena Cohort Study

F V Segala et al. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background and objectives: HIV infection among vulnerable women (VW) has been attributed to unfavourable power relations and limited access to sexual and reproductive health information and services. This work aims to report sexually-transmitted infections (STI) prevalence and assess the impact of HIV awareness, demographic and socio-behavioural factors on HIV status in a rural area of northern Uganda.

Methods: Pe Atye Kena is a longitudinal cohort intervention study enrolling young women aged 18-49 years old living in the municipality of Gulu, Uganda. HIV, HBV, syphilis serologic tests, and a comprehensive electronic questionnaire on sexual high-risk behaviours were administered before intervention. In this work, we report baseline characteristics of the population along with factors associated with HIV status. Statistical analysis was performed by uni- and multivariable regression models.

Results: 461 VW were enrolled (mean age: 29 (SD7.7)). 40 (8.7%) were found to be positive for HIV, 42 (9.1%) for syphilis and 29 (6.3%) for HBV. Older age (> 34 years vs. < 24 years; OR 4.95, 95% CI: 1.7 to 14); having done the last HIV test > 12m before the interview (OR 5.21, 95% CI: 2.3 to 11); suspecting the male sexual partner to be HIV+ (OR 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1 to 4.3); not having used condom at first sexual intercourse (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.3 to 5.15) were all factors associated with an incident HIV diagnosis.

Conclusions: In this cohort, HIV prevalence is high, and sexual high-risk behaviours are multifaced; future interventions will be aimed to reduce HIV/STIs misconceptions and to promote a sense of community, self-determination and female empowerment.

Keywords: Female empowerment; Sexually transmitted infections; Uganda; Women.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The authors declare no conflict of Interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pe Atye Kena study design. Serologic tests for HIV, HBV and syphilis will be administered, along with a full questionnaire investigating HIV awareness, sexual self-determination, stigma and risky behaviours every six months for the whole duration of the study (2019–2022). Educational interventions will be performed on a monthly basis. All women who will be incident cases of HIV, HBV and syphilis will be referred to the St Mary Lacor Hospital for treatment.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Recruitment Flow diagram of the study. 523 women were screened from 15th to 30th April 2019, and 62 were found to be ineligible. Among those, 53 women were already aware to be HIV-infected, 5 were excluded because either questionnaire responses or biological data were not available for data analysis, and 4 women were enrolled twice.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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