Evian CR, Rosen S, Thea DM, Fox M, Macleod B, Simon J, Slotow SJ, Evian TD, Craven R; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. TuPeC4681.
AIDS Management and Support, Depart of Community Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
BACKGROUND: Most estimates of national HIV seroprevalence are based upon anonymous unlinked testing of women at antenatal clinics. Testing of males in large anonymous unlinked cohorts is uncommon. This study reports the results of HIV testing of (predominantly male) employees in southern Africa. METHODS: Between 1999-2001, 43 voluntary anonymous unlinked HIV prevalence surveys were successfully carried out in workplaces in South Africa, Zambia, Namibia and Botswana on a total of 42,827 employees. Saliva-based HIV antibody tests were done on a sample of employees in each workplace, after agreement with management and labour representatives in mining, manufacturing and other sectors. Information collected included age and job category/grade. Individual company surveys ranged in size from 350 to 9,000 subjects. RESULTS: Seropositives represented 16.8% of the entire sample. Seroprevalence differed by job category and age. Professionals and managers (3.3%) had the lowest seroprevalence, while unskilled (18.6%) and contract employees (21%) had much higher seroprevalence. Seroprevalence by age peaked at 31 to 40 years at 21.2%. Seroprevalence by location ranged from 1.5 to 24.6%. CONCLUSION: The analysis provides HIV prevalence data on permanent and contract workers. The data provides some of the best available epidemiological information on the HIV epidemic in southern Africa, especially on men in the region. It also demonstrates the value and use of anonymous unlinked prevalence surveys for general HIV surveillance and for managing and monitoring the epidemic among working communities.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Africa, Southern
- Anonymous Testing
- Botswana
- Data Collection
- Disease Outbreaks
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- HIV Seroprevalence
- Humans
- Male
- Mass Screening
- Namibia
- Prevalence
- Research
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- South Africa
- Workplace
- Zambia
Other ID:
UI: 102251140
From Meeting Abstracts