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Premarital HIV-1 testing in New Jersey
R Altman1, S I Shahied, W Pizzuti
1Division of AIDS Prevention and Control, New Jersey Department of Health, Trenton 08625-0363.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Premarital HIV-1 testing in New Jersey revealed higher infection rates than previously estimated. These findings support voluntary HIV-1 counseling and testing for all marriage applicants.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- New Jersey has a high incidence of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
- Previous estimates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) prevalence among marriage applicants were lower than current findings.
- The usefulness of premarital HIV-1 testing has been questioned.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of HIV-1 infection among individuals seeking marriage licenses in New Jersey.
- To assess the utility of premarital HIV-1 screening in a high-incidence state.
Main Methods:
- Two blinded serosurveys were conducted on blood specimens submitted for syphilis testing from marriage license applicants in New Jersey.
- The first survey analyzed specimens from September 1987 to August 1988.
- The second survey analyzed specimens from five clinical laboratories in Spring 1989.
Main Results:
- The weighted prevalence of HIV-1 antibodies was 0.55% in 1987-1988 and 0.62% in 1989.
- HIV-1 seroprevalence in marriage applicants was higher than previously reported.
- Positive test ratios for males to females were 2.7:1 in 1987-1988 and 1.6:1 in 1989.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of HIV-1 infection among marriage applicants in New Jersey is significant.
- These findings support the implementation of voluntary HIV-1 counseling and testing for marriage applicants.
- Premarital screening can identify infections and inform public health strategies.