High prevalence of HIV infection among rural tea plantation residents in Kericho, Kenya

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 136; no. 5; pp. 694 - 702
• Main Authors: FOGLIA, G., SATEREN, W. B., RENZULLO, P. O., BAUTISTA, C. T., LANGAT, L., WASUNNA, M. K., SINGER, D. E., SCOTT, P. T., ROBB, M. L., BIRX, D. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-05-2008
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; AIDS; AIDS vaccines; Antiretroviral drugs; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Blood banks; Condoms; Education; Ethnicity; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HIV; HIV 1; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - virology; HIV-1 - isolation & purification; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Kenya - epidemiology; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Men; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Original Papers; Personal information; Physical examinations; Predisposing factors; Prevalence; Risk assessment; Risk Factors; Rural Population; Sex Factors; Spouses; Standard deviation; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Kenya; Africa; Infection; Human; Immunopathology; Prevalence; Microbiology; Viral disease; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268807009028

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epidemiology among residents of a rural agricultural plantation in Kericho, Kenya was studied. HIV-1 prevalence was 14·3%, and was higher among women (19·1%) than men (11·3%). Risk factors associated with HIV-1 for men were age (⩾25 years), marital history (one or more marriages), age difference from current spouse (⩾5 years), Luo ethnicity, sexually transmitted infection (STI) symptoms in the past 6 months, circumcision (protective), and sexual activity (⩾7 years). Among women, risk factors associated with HIV-1 were age (25–29 years, ⩾35 years), marital history (one or more marriages), age difference from current spouse (⩾10 years), Luo ethnicity, STI symptoms in the past 6 months, and a STI history in the past 5 years. Most participants (96%) expressed a willingness to participate in a future HIV vaccine study. These findings will facilitate targeted intervention and prevention measures for HIV-1 infection in Kericho.