Epidemiology of HIV infection among prostitutes in the Philippines

Article Abstract:

The number of cases of AIDS that have been reported in Asia, including the Philippines, has been low. However, conditions for the spread of HIV exist, especially through heterosexual relationships. There is a high rate of prostitution in the Philippines and there are many tourists and foreigners residing in the Philippines who are from countries where there is a high prevalence of HIV infections. The extent of HIV infection among prostitutes in the Philippines was studied. Between the years 1985 and 1987, 25,392 female prostitutes from 64 cities in the Philippines were examined for the presence of antibodies against HIV. The rate of infection, as determined by the presence of antibodies to HIV, was 0.8 per 1,000 women examined (0.08 percent). This rate of infection is low compared with the rates of infectivity in prostitutes from other countries. Eighty-five percent of the prostitutes who were infected with HIV were from two cities, Olongapo and Angeles, where half of the prostitutes of the Philippines are located. After one year, the rate of infection in those two cites rose to 2.3 out of 1,000 (0.23 percent), which is not a large increase. The behavioral patterns of 34 prostitutes who were infected with HIV and 61 prostitutes who were not infected were studied and no risk factors related to sexual or other behaviors could be identified for HIV infection. There was an increased incidence of HIV infection among women who had physical symptoms or signs such as genital warts, abnormal vaginal discharge, or antibodies to the cytomegalovirus. However, upon statistical analysis, only the presence of abnormal vaginal discharge was independently associated with increased incidence of infection with HIV. This abnormal discharge is probably due to increased inflammation in the cervix of the uterus. There was no evidence that HIV was transmitted by contaminated blood that was used for transfusion or by the sharing of needles during the use of intravenous drugs, suggesting that HIV was spread primarily through sexual activity. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Philippines, Prostitutes, AIDS (Disease), AIDS virus carriers, HIV carriers

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Epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus in families in Lusaka, Zambia

Article Abstract:

In Africa, the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is transmitted mainly by heterosexual intercourse, as indicated by detection of HIV-1 in both semen and vaginal secretions. However, the presence of HIV-1 in saliva and tears of infected patient may indicate nonsexual methods of HIV transmission among family members. In developing countries, the crowded dwellings and poor hygiene are conducive to frequent nonsexual contact. The prevalence of HIV-1 infection and disease was assessed among members of households of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex (ARC) in Lusaka, Zambia. HIV-1 infection was detected in 92 spouses of male patients from 150 households, and 57 spouses of female patients from 78 households. The probability that a spouse became infected and developed symptoms increased as the clinical stage of the illness in the patient advanced. Among 11 spouses who had positive blood tests for HIV-1 infection, four had sexual intercourse when their HIV-1-infected partners had genital ulcers. Among 144 children under five years of age, 36 were HIV-1 infected and all had infected mothers. Among 120 children aged five to 10 years, three became infected, most likely during birth. Of 52 couples, in which only one partner was infected, 46 continued to have unprotected intercourse and 11 previously uninfected partners contracted HIV-1 infection. The results show that within this African community, HIV infection occurs mainly through heterosexual intercourse or perinatal infection of children born of infected mothers. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diseases, Infants (Newborn), Neonatal diseases

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Clinical and epidemiological features of HIV infection at a referral clinic in Zambia

Article Abstract:

The clinical characteristics and epidemiological features of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were assessed at the Dermatovenerealogy Clinic, University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Out of 1,350 patients with HIV infection, 125 patients had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 1,178 had AIDS-related complex (ARC), and 46 were without symptoms. One and a half times more men than women were infected with HIV, and female patients were on the average about five years younger than the male patients. In addition, HIV-infected patients had more lifetime sexual partners than noninfected persons. Risk factors for HIV infection included a history of sexually-transmitted disease, especially a positive test for syphilis, blood transfusion, and travel abroad. Clinical characteristics of HIV infection included weight loss, disease of the lymph nodes, long-term cough, diarrhea, recurrent fever, tuberculosis, yeast infection of the mouth and pharynx, and herpes zoster, which is an infectious disease characterized by nerve inflammation and skin lesions. The World Health Organization clinical case definition for the diagnosis of AIDS was able to predict the development of AIDS in 76.4 percent of the HIV-infected cases. Thirty of 85 patients without previous evidence of HIV infection became infected after an average period of 21 months. In this patient population in Lusaka, Zambia, HIV infection is transmitted mainly by heterosexual intercourse not associated with prostitution. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

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