PREVALENCE AND RISK-FACTORS OF HIV-1 INFECTION IN 3 PARISHES IN WESTERN UGANDA

A population-based serosurvey was conducted to determine the HIV-1 pre valence and to evaluate various risk factors in three parishes in west ern Uganda. Adults over 14 years were examined in all 13 villages of K igoyera parish far from Fort Portal, in two villages of Kyamukoka pari sh closer to Fort Portal and in the four fishing villages of Ntoroko p arish at Lake Albert with a high population mobility. Personal intervi ews and HIV serology using ELISA and Western blot were performed. Sera showing at least two envelope bands in the Western blot were consider ed as positive. The coverage of the registered eligible population was 74% in Kigoyera, 67% in Kyamukoka and 25% in Ntoroko. The prevalence of HIV was 4% (97 of 2267 persons examined, 95% CI 3.4-5.1%) in Kigoye ra, a typical rural area. Whereas it was 13% (53 of 393 persons examin ed, 95% CI 10.1-16.9%) in Kyamukoka near to the district capital and e xceptionally high with 24% (96 of 399 persons examined, 95% CI 19.9-28 .3%) in the comparatively isolated fishing villages of Ntoroko. In a m ultivariate model the infection risk for HIV was in Kyamukoka two and in Ntoroko five times higher than in Kigoyera. Among the two main ethn ic groups one had a significantly lower risk to acquire HIV infection than the other group. Conclusions: Because of their large proportion o f migrating persons the fishing villages presented populations with hi gh risks for HIV infection. The ethnic composition of the village popu lation, representing group specific sexual behaviour, was a risk facto r for HIV infection.