Introduction of HIV-1 in a rural city of Zaire

In the rural city of Inongo (Bandundu region, Zaire), the prevalence of HIV-1 infection has been investigated during a survey on HTLV-I infection and associated neurological diseases, using a cluster sampling technique. Thirteen individuals were infected by HIV-1, 11 adults and 2 children, giving a crude prevalence rate in the cluster sample of 1.1%. More women were infected than men. After direct standardization on the age and sex structure given by the 1984 census, the prevalence of HIV-1 in the city may be estimated at 1.0% for the whole population and 1.6% for the population above 15 years of age. The importance is stressed of protecting rural populations, particularly women of childbearing age from the HIV epidemic, by information campaigns focused on the male migrant population, including both seasonal and travelling workers.