HIV seroprevalence in healthy blood donors in northeastern Zaire

Despite high seroprevalence rates in some parts of Africa, there is notable variation in prevalence between population subgroups. To document changes and trends in HIV seroprevalence in northeastern Zaire, 1989 to 1992 blood donor data were reviewed. Overall, 2453 donors were tested with seropositivity varying from 2.8% in 1989 to 6.9% in 1992. The increase in seropositivity was significant for men (2.5 to 5.8%, P = 0.017) and for people residing in rural areas (2.0 to 6.1%, P = 0.0008) but not for women (5.4 to 8.6%, P = 0.15) nor for urban individuals (10.5 to 8.6%, P = 0.55). These findings suggest that: 1) HIV infection is spreading in previously less-affected population subgroups rather than increasing widely in the entire population, 2) the HIV epidemic could be reaching a plateau or endemic phase in northeastern Zaire, and, 3) continued blood donor screening and wise transfusion practices are needed.