Lr. Barongo et al., INTAKE OF A COHORT STUDY OF URBAN FACTORY-WORKERS IN NORTHWEST TANZANIA, Tropical and geographical medicine, 46(3), 1994, pp. 157-162
A cohort study has been started of urban factory workers and their spo
uses in Tanzania, in order to 1) identify risk factors for HIV-1 seroc
onversion, and 2) document changes over time in risk behaviour, in par
ticular condom use and partner change, and determine whether these are
associated with a reduced incidence of HIV-1 and other sexually trans
mitted diseases. We report findings at intake from October 1991 to Mar
ch 1992, Study participants were interviewed, examined, and screened f
or HIV-1 and syphilis, HIV-1 prevalence was 91/926 (10%) in males and
36/217 (17%) in females, Statistically significant risk factors for HI
V-1 infection in males were age group, region of birth, not being marr
ied for more than 5 years, being uncircumcised, having had a genital u
lcer in. the past four months, and having received injections from med
ical staff in the past four months. HIV-1 incidence in this group is e
xpected to be between 1% and 2% per year. It is concluded that a longi
tudinal study is needed to assess the importance of partner change, Th
is cohort appears to be suitable for such a study as HIV-1 incidence i
s expected to be fairly high, HIV-1 prevalence and risk factors are co
mparable to those of the general population and cooperation of the fac
tory workers is good.