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Pattern of HIV-infection in Hurungwe district, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe
K Denhe1, D Dhlakama, C Richter
1Academic Unit of Public Health Medicine, University of Leeds, UK.
Insights
This study tracked Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases in a Zimbabwean district starting in 1986. Over three years, 887 symptomatic HIV patients were diagnosed, with higher incidence in urban areas.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The first Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection case in a Northern Zimbabwean district was diagnosed in 1986.
- A hospital-based surveillance system was established to monitor the HIV epidemic's spread.
Purpose of the Study:
- To monitor the geographical and demographic spread of HIV in the district.
- To identify common clinical presentations and risk factors associated with HIV infection.
Main Methods:
- A surveillance system recorded residence, age, sex, and clinical presentation of newly diagnosed HIV patients.
- Data from three years of surveillance were compiled and analyzed.
Main Results:
- A total of 887 symptomatic HIV patients were diagnosed, representing 0.5% of the district population.
- Common HIV-associated symptoms included persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) (47%), chest infections (29%), herpes zoster (24%), and chronic sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (15%).
- The female-to-male ratio was 1.4:1. Average age at diagnosis was 26.0 years for women and 30.7 years for men. Cumulative incidence was higher in urban (27.2/1,000) than rural areas (3/1,000).
Conclusions:
- The study highlights the significant burden of HIV in the district, with notable urban-rural disparities in incidence.
- Understanding demographic patterns and clinical manifestations is crucial for targeted intervention and public health strategies.
Abstract:
After the first case of HIV-infection had been diagnosed in 1986 in a Northern district of Zimbabwe, a local hospital based surveillance system, was introduced. In order to monitor the spread of the epidemic in the district, residence, age, sex and clinical presentation of all newly diagnosed HIV-patients were recorded. After three years, the data were compiled and analysed with the following results. Altogether 887 symptomatic HIV-patients (0.5 pc of the district population) were diagnosed. The most common HIV-associated signs and symptoms were PGL (47 pc), chest infection (29 pc), herpes zoster (24 pc) and chronic STDs (15 pc). The female-to-male ratio in adults was 1.4. The average age on diagnosis in women was 26.0 +/- 6.7 years and in men 30.7 +/- 8.6 years. The three years' cumulative incidence of HIV-cases was 27.2/1,000 in the urban area and 3/1,000 in the rural areas of the district.
