Serostatus surveillance testing of HIV-I infection among Zimbabwean psychiatric inpatients, in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Objective: To investigate seroprevalence rates of HIV infection among Zimbabwean psychiatric inpatients.

Design: An identity-unlinked procedure, for ELISA and Western blot HIV testing of consecutively admitted psychiatric patients, was used during the four month period of the study. The seropositive groups were further categorized along the WHO case definition of HIV/AIDS infection criteria. The blood results were coded and linked to various demographic variables and risk factors. All data were measured at either nominal or ordinal levels. Comparisons between variables were made by chi-square test for proportion and independence.

Setting: Harare Central Hospital Psychiatric Unit, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Subjects: A total of 143 inpatients (60.8 pc males and 39.2 pc females), mean(SD) age 32.5 (10.5) years and the mean(SD) duration of psychiatric illness of 4.21 (1.7) years.

Main outcome measure: Prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection among psychiatric patients.

Results: The seroprevalence rate of HIV infection was 23.8pc and was significantly related to high education attainment (p < 0.03) and unemployment status of the patients (p < 0.03).

Conclusion: There is an urgent need to develop and apply preventive interventions for HIV infected psychiatric patients.

PIP: Psychiatric patients, like any other medical patients, are vulnerable to HIV infection and those infected with HIV could transmit the virus to others. Some studies have found that the severely mentally ill as a group are more vulnerable to HIV infection because of comorbidity with substance abuse. Unsafe sexual behavior has also been reported among the severely mentally ill. Blood samples from 87 male and 56 female patients consecutively admitted to Harare Central Hospital's Psychiatric Unit were tested with ELISA and Western blot for infection with HIV. The subjects were 17-70 years old of mean age 32.5 years with a mean 4.21 years of psychiatric illness. 23.8% were infected with HIV and HIV infection was significantly related to high education attainment and being unemployed. Preventive interventions are urgently needed for HIV-infected psychiatric patients in Zimbabwe.