%0 Journal Article
%T HIV-1 prevalence and factors associated with infection in the conflict-affected region of North Uganda
%A Massimo Fabiani
%A Barbara Nattabi
%A Chiara Pierotti
%A Filippo Ciantia
%A Alex A Opio
%A Joshua Musinguzi
%A Emintone O Ayella
%A Silvia Declich
%J Conflict and Health
%D 2007
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1752-1505-1-3
%X In June-December 2005, a total of 3051 antenatal clinics attendees in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts were anonymously tested for HIV-1 infection as part of routine sentinel surveillance. Factors associated with the infection were evaluated using logistic regression models.The age-standardised HIV-1 prevalence was 10.3%, 9.1% and 4.3% in the Gulu, Kitgum and Pader district, respectively. The overall prevalence in the area comprised of these districts was 8.2% when data was weighted according to the districts' population size. Data from all sites combined show that, besides older women [20每24 years: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29每2.97; 25每29 years: AOR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.30每3.11; ≡ 30 years: AOR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.23每2.97], unmarried women (AOR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.06每2.04), and those with a partner with a non-traditional occupation (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.18每2.21), women living outside of protected camps for internally displaced persons have a higher risk of being HIV-1 infected than internally displaced women (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.15每2.08).Although published data from Gulu district show a declining HIV-1 prevalence trend that is consistent with that observed at the national level since 1993, the prevalence in North Uganda is still high. Internally displaced women have a lower risk of being infected probably because of their reduced mobility and accessibility, and increased access to health prevention services.In sub-Saharan Africa, the HIV epidemic is commonly monitored through the sentinel surveillance of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (ANC), which provides important indications for planning and evaluating public-health interventions.In Uganda, a national HIV-1 sentinel surveillance system has existed for more than 10 years and currently involves 20 ANCs [1]. However, few of these ANCs are located in the north, where the available data on the HIV-1 epidemic are still limited and where the violent civil strife that has
%U http://www.conflictandhealth.com/content/1/1/3