Undiagnosed HIV Infection among Adolescents Seeking Primary Health Care in Zimbabwe
Abstract
Background. Mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was extremely common in southern Africa during the 1990s, and a substantial minority of infected infants have survived to reach adolescence undiagnosed. Studies have shown a high prevalence of HIV infection in hospitalized adolescents who have features associated with long-standing HIV infection, including stunting and frequent minor illnesses. We therefore investigated the epidemiology of HIV infection at the primary care level.
Methods. Adolescents (aged 10–18 years) attending two primary care clinics underwent HIV and Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) serological testing, clinical examination, and anthropometry. All were offered routine HIV counseling and testing. Patients attending for acute primary care (APC) who were HIV infected were asked about their risk factors.
Results. Five hundred ninety-four participants were systematically recruited (97% participation), of whom 88 (15%) were attending for antenatal care. HIV infection prevalence was higher among APC attendees than among antenatal care attendees (17% vs 6%; P
Conclusions. Unrecognized HIV infection was a common cause of primary care attendance. Routine HIV counseling and testing implemented at the primary care level may provide a simple and effective way of identifying older long-term survivors of mother-to-child transmission before the onset of severe immunosuppression and irreversible complications.
Citation
Ferrand, R.A.; Munaiwa, L.; Matsekete, J.; Bandason, T.; Nathoo, K.; Ndhlovu, C.E.; Munyati, S.; Cowan, F.M.; Gibb, D.M.; Corbett, E.L. Undiagnosed HIV Infection among Adolescents Seeking Primary Health Care in Zimbabwe. Clinical Infectious Diseases (2010) 51 (7) 844-851. [DOI: 10.1086/656361]
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Undiagnosed HIV Infection among Adolescents Seeking Primary Health Care in Zimbabwe