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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
HIV prevalence among high school learners - Opportunities for schools-based HIV testing programmes and sexual reproductive health services
BMC Public Health, Volume 12, No. 1, Article 231, Year 2012
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Description
Background: Young girls in sub Saharan Africa are reported to have higher rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection compared to boys in the same age group. Knowledge of HIV status amongst high schools learners provides an important gateway to prevention and treatment services. This study aimed at determining the HIV prevalence and explored the feasibility of HIV testing among high school learners. Methods. Between September 2010 and February 2011, a linked, anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted in two public sector high schools in the rural KwaZulu-Natal midlands. Following written informed consent, dried blood spot samples (DBS) were collected and tested for HIV. The overall and age-specific HIV prevalence were compared with select demographic variables. Results: The HIV prevalence in learners aged 12 to 25 in school A was 4.7% (95% CI 2.8-6.5) compared to 2.5% (95% CI 1.6-3.5) in school B, (p = 0.04). Whilst the HIV prevalence was similar for boys at 1.3% (95% CI 0-2.8) in school A and 1.7% (95% CI 0.5-2.8) in school B, the prevalence in girls was consistently higher and was 7.7% (95% CI 4.5-10.9) in school A and 3.2% (95% CI 1.8-4.6) in school B. The age-specific HIV prevalence in girls increased 1.5 to 2 fold for each two year age category, while for boys the prevalence was stable across all age groups. Conclusions: The high HIV prevalence in female learners underscores the importance of sexual reproductive health and schools-based HIV testing programs as an important gateway to prevention and treatment services. © 2012 Kharsany et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Kharsany, Ayesha B.M.
South Africa, Congella
Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa
Mlotshwa, Mukelisiwe
South Africa, Congella
Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa
Fröhlich, Janet A.
South Africa, Congella
Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa
Yende, Nonhlanhla
South Africa, Congella
Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa
Samsunder, Natasha
South Africa, Congella
Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa
Abdool Karim, Salim S.
South Africa, Congella
Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa
United States, New York
Mailman School of Public Health
Abdool Karim, Quarraisha Abdool
South Africa, Congella
Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa
United States, New York
Mailman School of Public Health
Statistics
Citations: 53
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1471-2458-12-231
e-ISSN:
14712458
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Participants Gender
Male
Female