Incidence of HIV in Windhoek, Namibia: demographic and socio-economic associations.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate HIV incidence and prevalence in Windhoek, Namibia and to analyze socio-economic factors related to HIV infection. METHOD: In 2006/7, baseline surveys were performed with 1,753 private households living in the greater Windhoek area; follow-up visits took place in 2008 and 2009....

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Main Authors: Marielle Aulagnier, Wendy Janssens, Ingrid De Beer, Gert van Rooy, Esegiel Gaeb, Cees Hesp, Jacques van der Gaag, Tobias F Rinke de Wit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3186802?pdf=render
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author Marielle Aulagnier
Wendy Janssens
Ingrid De Beer
Gert van Rooy
Esegiel Gaeb
Cees Hesp
Jacques van der Gaag
Tobias F Rinke de Wit
author_facet Marielle Aulagnier
Wendy Janssens
Ingrid De Beer
Gert van Rooy
Esegiel Gaeb
Cees Hesp
Jacques van der Gaag
Tobias F Rinke de Wit
author_sort Marielle Aulagnier
collection DOAJ
description OBJECTIVE: To estimate HIV incidence and prevalence in Windhoek, Namibia and to analyze socio-economic factors related to HIV infection. METHOD: In 2006/7, baseline surveys were performed with 1,753 private households living in the greater Windhoek area; follow-up visits took place in 2008 and 2009. Face-to-face socio-economic questionnaires were administrated by trained interviewers; biomedical markers were collected by nurses; GPS codes of household residences were recorded. RESULTS: The HIV prevalence in the population (aged>12 years) was 11.8% in 2006/7 and 14.6% in 2009. HIV incidence between 2007 and 2009 was 2.4 per 100 person year (95%CI = 1.9-2.9). HIV incidence and prevalence were higher in female populations. HIV incidence appeared non-associated with any socioeconomic factor, indicating universal risk for the population. For women a positive trend was found between low per-capita consumption and HIV acquisition. A HIV knowledge score was strongly associated with HIV incidence for both men and women. High HIV prevalence and incidence was concentrated in the north-western part of the city, an area with lower HIV knowledge, higher HIV risk perception and lower per-capita consumption. DISCUSSION: The HIV incidence and prevalence figures do not suggest a declining epidemic in Windhoek. Higher vulnerability of women is recorded, most likely related to economic dependency and increasing transactional sex in Namibia. The lack of relation between HIV incidence and socio-economic factors confirms HIV risks for the overall urban community. Appropriate knowledge is strongly associated to lower HIV incidence and prevalence, underscoring the importance of continuous information and education activities for prevention of infection. Geographical areas were identified that would require prioritized HIV campaigning.
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spelling doaj.art-c6045e8df0494f999962badfe85220212022-12-22T03:45:27ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032011-01-01610e2586010.1371/journal.pone.0025860Incidence of HIV in Windhoek, Namibia: demographic and socio-economic associations.Marielle AulagnierWendy JanssensIngrid De BeerGert van RooyEsegiel GaebCees HespJacques van der GaagTobias F Rinke de WitOBJECTIVE: To estimate HIV incidence and prevalence in Windhoek, Namibia and to analyze socio-economic factors related to HIV infection. METHOD: In 2006/7, baseline surveys were performed with 1,753 private households living in the greater Windhoek area; follow-up visits took place in 2008 and 2009. Face-to-face socio-economic questionnaires were administrated by trained interviewers; biomedical markers were collected by nurses; GPS codes of household residences were recorded. RESULTS: The HIV prevalence in the population (aged>12 years) was 11.8% in 2006/7 and 14.6% in 2009. HIV incidence between 2007 and 2009 was 2.4 per 100 person year (95%CI = 1.9-2.9). HIV incidence and prevalence were higher in female populations. HIV incidence appeared non-associated with any socioeconomic factor, indicating universal risk for the population. For women a positive trend was found between low per-capita consumption and HIV acquisition. A HIV knowledge score was strongly associated with HIV incidence for both men and women. High HIV prevalence and incidence was concentrated in the north-western part of the city, an area with lower HIV knowledge, higher HIV risk perception and lower per-capita consumption. DISCUSSION: The HIV incidence and prevalence figures do not suggest a declining epidemic in Windhoek. Higher vulnerability of women is recorded, most likely related to economic dependency and increasing transactional sex in Namibia. The lack of relation between HIV incidence and socio-economic factors confirms HIV risks for the overall urban community. Appropriate knowledge is strongly associated to lower HIV incidence and prevalence, underscoring the importance of continuous information and education activities for prevention of infection. Geographical areas were identified that would require prioritized HIV campaigning.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3186802?pdf=render
spellingShingle Marielle Aulagnier
Wendy Janssens
Ingrid De Beer
Gert van Rooy
Esegiel Gaeb
Cees Hesp
Jacques van der Gaag
Tobias F Rinke de Wit
Incidence of HIV in Windhoek, Namibia: demographic and socio-economic associations.
PLoS ONE
title Incidence of HIV in Windhoek, Namibia: demographic and socio-economic associations.
title_full Incidence of HIV in Windhoek, Namibia: demographic and socio-economic associations.
title_fullStr Incidence of HIV in Windhoek, Namibia: demographic and socio-economic associations.
title_full_unstemmed Incidence of HIV in Windhoek, Namibia: demographic and socio-economic associations.
title_short Incidence of HIV in Windhoek, Namibia: demographic and socio-economic associations.
title_sort incidence of hiv in windhoek namibia demographic and socio economic associations
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3186802?pdf=render
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