AIDS
Volume 13, Issue 17, 1999, Pages 2437-2443
Effect of the worldwide epidemic on HIV prevalence in the United Kingdom: Record linkage in anonymous neonatal seroprevalence surveys (Article)
Ades A.E.* ,
Walker J. ,
Botting B. ,
Parker S. ,
Cubitt D. ,
Jones R.
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a
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Child Health, Office for National Statistics, United Kingdom, Neonatal Screening Laboratory, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
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b
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Child Health, Office for National Statistics, United Kingdom, Department of Virology
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c
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Child Health, Office for National Statistics, United Kingdom, Department of Virology
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d
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Child Health, Office for National Statistics, United Kingdom, Department of Virology, Neonatal Screening Laboratory, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
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e
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Child Health, Office for National Statistics, United Kingdom, Department of Virology, Neonatal Screening Laboratory, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
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f
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Child Health, Office for National Statistics, United Kingdom, Department of Virology, Neonatal Screening Laboratory, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
Abstract
Objective: To assess the impact of the worldwide HIV/AIDS epidemic on the prevalence of HIV in women in the United Kingdom (UK), particularly in the large immigrant and ethnic minority communities. Method: Unlinked anonymous neonatal seroprevalence survey with electronic record linkage of data from child health computers (maternal age and ethnic status) and birth registration (parent's country of birth). Results: Of a total 137,456 samples collected in 1997-1998, 188 (0.14%) were anti-HIV-1 seropositive. Seroprevalence was highest in women born in East Africa (2.3%) and Central Africa (1.9%). 76.4% of seropositive newborns were delivered to mothers born in sub-Saharan Africa; a further 6.0% had fathers from sub-Saharan Africa. However, there was little evidence of HIV in women born in Southern Asia [prevalence 0.0081%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0-0.04], and none within UK-born Asian communities. Prevalence among the UK-born Black African community was low (0.14%; 95% CI 0-0.6). Among infants with both parents known to be born in the UK, seroprevalence was 0.023% (95% CI 0.01-0.04) in London, and zero (95% CI 0-0.007) in non-Metropolitan areas. Irrespective of mother's region of birth, seroprevalence was 4.2 times higher (95% CI 3.0-5.8) in newborns whose father's details were not recorded at birth registration, a marker for single unsupported mothers. Conclusion: The risk of HIV among pregnant women from sub-Saharan Africa has been recognized. However, in southern England, HIV is very rare in women from Southern Asia and in UK-born women in ethnic minority communities, in spite of cultural and travel ties to high-prevalence countries. Data linkage in anonymous surveys assists in monitoring the impact of the worldwide epidemic on prevalence and incidence locally.
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https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0032762616&doi=10.1097%2f00002030-199912030-00016&partnerID=40&md5=7b540295cf936e00d7c150da2c3f74fa
DOI: 10.1097/00002030-199912030-00016
ISSN: 02699370
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English