Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
immunology and microbiology
HIV prevalence and risk factors in women of Accra, Ghana: Results from The Women's Health Study of Accra
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Volume 73, No. 1, Year 2005
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
The Women's Health Study of Accra is a cross-sectional study designed to measure the burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases in adult women residing in Accra, Ghana. This study assessed the prevalence rate of HIV and risk factors associated with HIV infection in 1,328 women age 18 years and older. The weighted overall HIV prevalence rate for women residing in Accra is 3.1%. The highest prevalence rate of HIV infections was identified in women age 25 to 29 years at 8.3%, OR (95% CI) 3.8 (1.68-8.33), P = 001. In addition to young age, other significant risk factors included sexually transmitted infection (STI) symptoms (OR 1.81 [1.14-2.87], P = 0.012) and mean number of lifetime sexual partners (P < 0.001). All HIV-positive women were sexually active. Other findings significantly associated with HIV-positive status included chills, oral lesions, tuberculosis, bloody sputum production, and intestinal parasite infections. There was a significant association with HIV-positive status and locality of residence in the city. There was no association with reported use of condoms, blood transfusions, surgery, reproductive health history including pregnancy or number of sexual partners, symptoms suggestive of AIDS, or self-perception of health. There was also no association with education level, religion, ethnicity, marital status, or socioeconomic level. This community-based study confirms the need to target young, sexually active women for HIV educational and preventive initiatives. A strong Ghanaian public health initiative to increase awareness of the risks of HIV and the link to STIs is critical at this time to prevent the further increase in HIV prevalence and the resultant HIV-associated illnesses. Copyright © 2005 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Authors & Co-Authors
Duda, Rosemary Bernadette
United States, Boston
Harvard Medical School
Darko, Rudolph
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Adanu, Richard Mawuena Kofi
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Seffah, Joseph D.
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Anarfi, John Kwasi
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Gautam, Shiva
United States, Boston
Harvard Medical School
Hill, Allan G.
United States, Boston
Harvard T.h. Chan School of Public Health
Statistics
Citations: 24
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.4269/ajtmh.2005.73.63
ISSN:
00029637
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Noncommunicable Diseases
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Ghana
Participants Gender
Female