HIV seroprevalence in clients of sentinel family planning clinics

In February 1988 the New York State Department of Health initiated a study to determine the prevalence of HIV antibody in women attending selected, publicly subsidized family planning clinics. During a 26-month study period, 27,549 blood specimens were obtained from women having an initial medical examination in 41 clinic sites throughout the state. Of these clients 144 (0.52 percent) were seropositive. The HIV seroprevalence rate increased with age to a high of 1.56 percent for 831 women ages 35 to 39. The seroprevalence rate for non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic clients (0.76 percent) was about six times the rate for non-Hispanic Whites (0.13 percent). No overall increasing or decreasing trend in prevalence of HIV infection was detected during the study period.