Related Experiment Videos
Changing risk factors for HIV infection
Patricia Volkow1, Alejandro Mohar, José-Juan Terrazas
1Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCAN), Mexico City, Mexico. volkow@infosel.net.mx
Archives of Medical Research
|February 5, 2002
Summary
In Mexican women, HIV risk factors shifted from blood transfusions to sexual transmission by 1992. The study highlights a high prevalence of human papillomavirus-related cervical lesions in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Gynecology
Background:
- HIV infection in women is a significant public health concern in developing nations.
- Risk factors for HIV acquisition in women are geographically variable and can evolve over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiologic characteristics of HIV-infected women in Mexico City.
- To investigate associated gynecologic diseases in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 130 HIV-infected women at two tertiary-care hospitals in Mexico City (March 1985 - January 1996).
- Analysis of HIV transmission routes, disease stage at diagnosis, and prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).
Main Results:
- A statistically significant shift in HIV transmission occurred in 1992, from predominantly blood transfusion to sexual contact.
- Before 1992, 90% of women presented with advanced HIV (Stage IV), compared to 51% after 1992.
- Human papillomavirus infection was identified in 24% of patients, with 9.8% showing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and 4.3% having invasive cervical carcinoma.
Conclusions:
- Mexico successfully reduced transfusion-related HIV infections but struggled to curb sexual transmission among women.
- A high frequency of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions, associated with HPV, was observed in HIV-infected women.
- These findings underscore the need for targeted prevention strategies and gynecologic screening for HIV-positive women.