[Epidemiological portrait of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and its implications in Benin]

The HIV/AIDS threat continues in African countries, including the Republic of Benin, during this period of economic crisis which is accentuated by the devaluation of the currency. National statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate a progression of the number of cases seropositive for HIV and the number of cases developing AIDS. Concomitantly, we observe a decrease of the number of teenagers fearing HIV infection and a spread or risky sexual behavior, such as unprotected sex. Despite the weak prevalence of HIV infection in Benin, the increase of the number of cases with AIDS remains a serious social problem. This paper describes the epidemiological pattern of AIDS and its social, demographic and economical implications as they affect the current national program to increase the awareness of the problem. We obtained scientific information on the epidemiological chain of AIDS morbidity from prior research results, data from the disease control centers and interviews with the parents of some patients. Quantitative data was collected from twenty selected disease control centers of the national program against AIDS from 1986 to 1995. We compared these data with data obtained by the WHO from 1986 to 1992 from the neighboring countries of Benin. We observed an exponential growth of the cumulative number of AIDS cases, from one declared case in 1985 to 1,280 cases in 1995, including twenty thousand cases seropositive for HIV in 1991. The majority of cases were people between 20 and 49 years old and were predominantly males. Heterosexual (73%), homosexual (0.8%), and mother to child vertical transmission were the principal modes of transmission registered for carriers of HIV-1, HIV-2, or both. The qualitative study revealed a social situation dominated by verbal violence against infected women, absenteeism at work of the patients' family and, friends and a psychological impact on the children of the patients. An evaluation of the direct costs of AIDS was estimated to be $217,600 (US $) for the 1,280 reported cases. We suggest further reinforcement of the program to raise the awareness of the young people in the urban and rural areas of the country.