Sexually Transmitted Infections
Volume 87, Issue 4, 2011, Pages 283-288

High prevalent and incident HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus 2 infection among male migrant and non-migrant sugar farm workers in Zambia (Article)

Heffron R.* , Chao A. , Mwinga A. , Sinyangwe S. , Sinyama A. , Ginwalla R. , Shields J.M. , Kafwembe E. , Kaetano L. , Mulenga C. , Kasongo W. , Mukonka V. , Bulterys M.
  • a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Global AIDS Program, Lusaka, Zambia, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 359927, Seattle, WA 98195-7236, United States
  • b Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Global AIDS Program, Lusaka, Zambia, CDC China-US Collaborative, Program for Maternal-Child and Family Health, Beijing, China
  • c Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Global AIDS Program, Lusaka, Zambia
  • d Department of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia, Zambia Sugar Medical Department, Mazabuka, Zambia
  • e Zambia Sugar Medical Department, Mazabuka, Zambia
  • f Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Global AIDS Program, Lusaka, Zambia
  • g Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Global AIDS Program, Lusaka, Zambia
  • h Immunology Unit, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia
  • i Immunology Unit, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia
  • j Immunology Unit, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia
  • k Immunology Unit, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia
  • l Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Global AIDS Program, Lusaka, Zambia, Department of Public Health, Zambian Ministry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia
  • m Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Global AIDS Program, Lusaka, Zambia, CDC Global AIDS Program - China, Beijing, China

Abstract

Background: More insight is needed regarding risk factors for prevalent and incident HIV-1 infection among male farm workers in Sub-Saharan Africa to control the HIV-1 epidemic. Methods: Male farm workers were recruited from a sugar estate in Zambia to participate in a prospective cohort study. Questionnaire data were collected via interview, and testing was conducted for HIV-1, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and syphilis infection at baseline and follow-up between May 2006 and September 2007. Results: Among 1062 workers enrolled, HIV-1 prevalence at baseline was 20.7%. Testing HSV-2 seropositive (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 5.4, 95% CI 3.6 to 8.1), self-reported genital ulcers in the past year (AOR 2.8, 95% CI 1.9 to 4.2), and being widowed (AOR 3.7, 95% CI 2.0 to 6.9) were significantly associated with prevalent HIV-1 infection. The HIV-1 incidence among 731 initially negative participants with at least one follow-up visit was 4.1 per 1000 person-months (95% CI 2.6 to 5.7); seroconversion was independently associated with prevalent HSV-2 infection (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 2.4, 95% CI 1.0 to 5.8) and incident HSV-2 infection (AHR 18.0, 95% CI 4.2 to 76.3). HIV-1 prevalence and incidence rates were similar among migrant and non-migrant workers. Conclusions: HIV-1 prevalence and incidence were high, and HSV-2 infection was a risk factor for HIV-1 acquisition. There is an urgent need to expand HIV-1 prevention programmes tailored to farm workers and their communities.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

herpes simplex Herpes simplex virus 2 prospective study immigrant HIV Infections seroconversion agricultural worker follow up human Zambia Prospective Studies middle aged Self Report priority journal Aged interview Young Adult migrant worker Humans male Risk Factors questionnaire Agricultural Workers' Diseases Syphilis prevalence Incidence Article major clinical study adult infection risk HIV-1 Herpesvirus 2, Human Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection cohort analysis Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Transients and Migrants widow genital ulcer
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79956282173&doi=10.1136%2fsti.2010.045617&partnerID=40&md5=066c927f5695180e04625220fe3bd4f5
DOI: 10.1136/sti.2010.045617
ISSN: 13684973
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English