ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY AND THE HIV EPIDEMIC IN YAOUNDÉ, CAMEROON

2004 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 597-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. LYDIÉ ◽  
N. J. ROBINSON ◽  
B. FERRY ◽  
E. AKAM ◽  
M. DE LOENZIEN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Women ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Large Male ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Susceptibility To Infection ◽  
Risky Behaviours ◽  
Mixing Patterns ◽  
Using Data

Adolescents are the focus of many interventions that aim to prevent HIV transmission. In order for these interventions to be effective, it is essential to understand adolescents' sexual behaviour. Using data collected in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in 1997, the study analysed risk exposure and HIV prevalence among 426 men and 510 women aged 15–24. Although risky behaviours seem to be more prevalent among young men, their HIV prevalence remains under 1%. In contrast, HIV prevalence is high among young women (7·5%), even those who report having had few sexual partners. Mixing patterns among sexual partners, and especially the age difference between men and women, do not seem to be sufficient to explain the large male–female discrepancy in HIV prevalence that is evident in these data. The results are therefore probably due to a greater susceptibility to infection of young women than men. This study highlights the necessity of reinforcing prevention campaigns among youth and fighting the obstacles that continue to impede the use of condoms in this population.

scholarly journals High HIV prevalence and associated factors in a remote community in the Rwenzori region of Western Uganda

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Rubaihayo ◽  
Akib Surat ◽  
Mughusu Ezekiel ◽  
Abaasa Andrew
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Community Perceptions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Multiple Sexual Partners ◽  
Western Uganda

In Uganda, previous studies have shown a tremendous decline in HIV prevalence over the past two decades due to changes in sexual behavior with a greater awareness of the risks involved. However, studies in Fort-Portal municipality, a rural town in Western Uganda, continued to show a persistent high HIV prevalence despite the various interventions in place. We conducted a study to establish the current magnitude of HIV prevalence and the factors associated with HIV prevalence in this community. This cross-sectional study was conducted between July and November 2008. Participants were residents of Fort-Portal municipality aged 15-49 years. A population-based HIV sero-survey and a clinical review of prevention of mother to child HIV transmission (PMTCT) and voluntary counseling and HIV Testing (VCT) records were used to collect quantitative data. An inteviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect qualitative data on social deographics, risk behaviour and community perceptions. Focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews provided supplementary data on community perceptions. Logistic regression was used in the analysis. The overall HIV prevalence in the general population was 16.1% [95% CI; 12.5-20.6]. Prevalence was lower among women (14.5%; 95% CI; 10.0-19.7) but not significantly different from that among men (18.7%; 95% CI; 12.5-26.3) (c2=0.76, P=0.38). Having more than 2 sexual partners increased the odds of HIV by almost 2.5 times. None or low education and age over 35 years were independently associated with HIV prevalence (P<0.05). Most participants attributed the high HIV prevalence to promiscuity/multiple sexual partners (32.5%), followed by prostitution (13.6%), alcoholism (10.1%), carelessness (10.1%), poverty (9.7%), ignorance (9.5%)), rape (4.7%), drug abuse (3.6%) and others (malice/malevolence, laziness, etc.) (6.2%). Although there was a slight decline compared to previous reports, the results from this study confirm that HIV prevalence is still high in this community. In order to prevent new infections, the factors mentioned above need to be addressed, and we recommend that education aimed at changing individual behavior should be intensified in this community.

scholarly journals 1146Assessing the uncertainty around age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission inferred from phylogenetic trees

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Nyasulu
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Transmission Network ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Younger Women ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
Younger Men ◽  
Mixing Patterns ◽  
Set Up

Abstract Introduction Understand age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission is a key to design and implement HIV prevention interventions. As such, the use of phylogenetic tree seems promising since this approach is based on data from a transmission network. Methods Through a simulation study, we used transmission clusters computed from phylogenetic trees to investigate age-mixing patterns. From transmission clusters, we estimated a transmission network using pairings. We inferred measurements, which depict age-mixing patterns in transmission i.e. ‘proportions of men/women of a certain age-group paired with women/men of another age-group’, and mean, median, and standard deviation of average age difference between women/men with their respective pairs. We investigated the uncertainty around these measurements as a function of sampling coverage in different sequence missingness scenarios. Results According to the simulation set-up of age mixing in partnership, there are relationships, which are less likely and others highly likely. Explicitly, partnerships between younger men (&lt;25 years) and older women (25 to 50 years) are less likely to happen in the sexual network, whereas partnership between younger women (&lt;25 years) and older men (25 to 50 years) are more likely to happen as are age group relationship having intermediate magnitude in partnership. Conclusion Transmission clusters allow us to strive with more improved information regarding cross-generation transmission. It enables us to understand the importance of age mixing beyond describing the mean age difference, and that one needs to consider the variation of age differences between pairs of individuals as well as among the partners of a given individual.

scholarly journals Assessing the uncertainty around age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission inferred from phylogenetic trees

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0249013
Author(s):  
David Niyukuri ◽  
Peter Nyasulu ◽  
Wim Delva
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Hiv Prevention Strategies ◽  
Mixing Patterns

Understanding age-mixing patterns in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission networks can enhance the design and implementation of HIV prevention strategies in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to ethical consideration, it is less likely possible to conduct a benchmark study to assess which sampling strategy, and sub-optimal sampling coverage which can yield best estimates for these patterns. We conducted a simulation study, using phylogenetic trees to infer estimates of age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission, through the computation of proportions of pairings between men and women, who were phylogenetically linked across different age groups (15–24 years, 25–39 years, and 40–49 years); and the means, and standard deviations of their age difference. We investigated also the uncertainty around these estimates as a function of the sampling coverage in four sampling strategies: when missing sequence data were missing completely at random (MCAR), and missing at random (MAR) with at most 30%—50%—70% of women in different age groups being in the sample. The results suggested that age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission can be unveiled from proportions of phylogenetic pairings between men and women across age groups; and the mean, and standard deviation of their age difference. A 55% sampling coverage was sufficient to provide the best values of estimates of age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission with MCAR scenario. But we should be cautious in interpreting proportions of men phylogenetically linked to women because they may be overestimated or underestimated, even at higher sampling coverage. The findings showed that, MCAR was the best sampling strategy. This means, it is advisable not to use sequence data collected in settings where we can find a systematic imbalance of age and gender to investigate age-mixing in HIV transmission. If not possible, ensure to take into consideration the imbalance in interpreting the results.

scholarly journals HPV vaccination and sexual behaviour in healthcare seeking young women in Luxembourg

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Soudeyns ◽  
Niko Speybroeck ◽  
Marc Brisson ◽  
Joël Mossong ◽  
Ardashel Latsuzbaia
Keyword(s):  
Young Women ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Sexual Partner ◽  
Sexual Debut ◽  
Hpv Vaccination ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Relationship Duration ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Unsafe Sexual Behaviour

Introduction Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. Despite recommendations for HPV vaccination of young women from health authorities, parental concerns were raised whether vaccination could induce unsafe sexual behaviour in young women. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to investigate if HPV vaccination in healthcare seeking adult women in Luxembourg was associated with unsafe sexual behaviour. Methods Seven hundred twenty-nine women (mean age = 22.5; range 18–43 years) were recruited either at Luxembourg family planning centres or at private gynaecology practices. All participants completed a questionnaire on vaccination status and sexual behaviour. Poisson and logistic regressions were used to study the association between sexual behaviour and vaccination status (N = 538). Both models were restricted to women younger than 26 years, since the first cohort being vaccinated would be 25 years old at the time of sampling. Assortativity of sexual mixing by age was also assessed for further transmission modelling for women <30 years reporting age of last/current sexual partner (N = 649). Women older than 29 years were excluded from the assortativity analysis due to restricted sample size. Results In total, 386/538 (71.8%) of participants reported receiving HPV vaccine. Vaccination uptake significantly varied by nationality and was higher in Portuguese 112/142 (78.9%) and in Luxembourgish 224/313(71.6%) residents, and lower in residents of other nationalities 50/83 (60.2%) (p = 0.011). HPV vaccination was not associated with unsafe sexual behaviour such as shorter relationship duration with current or last sexual partner (odds ratio (OR) = 1.05, 95% CI [0.94–1.16]), younger age of sexual debut (OR = 1.00, 95% CI [0.88–1.14]), increased number of lifetime sexual partners (OR = 0.95, 95% CI [0.87–1.03), higher age difference with sexual partner (OR = 1.01, 95% CI [0.95–1.08]), condom use (OR = 0.97, 95% CI [0.60–1.56]), nor with other factors like smoking (OR = 0.73, 95% CI [0.47–1.15]) and nationality. HPV vaccination was only associated with younger age (OR = 0.84, 95% CI [0.75–0.94]). Relationship duration, age of sexual debut, age difference with sexual partner, smoking, age and non-Portuguese foreign nationality were predictors of number of lifetime sexual partners. Assortativity analysis revealed that young women chose sexual partners who were 2.3 years older on average. Conclusions Our study found no association between unsafe sexual behaviour and HPV vaccination.

Explaining variability in parasite aggregation levels among host samples

Parasitology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
pp. 541-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERT POULIN
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Host Susceptibility ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Susceptibility To Infection ◽  
Host Body ◽  
Parasite Aggregation ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Host Body Size

SUMMARYAggregated distributions among individual hosts are a defining feature of metazoan parasite populations. Heterogeneity among host individuals in exposure to parasites or in susceptibility to infection is thought to be the main factor generating aggregation, with properties of parasites themselves explaining some of the variability in aggregation levels observed among species. Here, using data from 410 samples of helminth parasites on fish hosts, I tested the contribution of (i) within-sample variation in host body size, taken as a proxy for variability in host susceptibility, and (ii) parasite taxon and developmental stage, to the aggregated distribution of parasites. Log-transformed variance in numbers of parasites per host was regressed against log mean number across all samples; the strong relationship (r2 = 0·88) indicated that aggregation levels are tightly constrained by mean infection levels, and that only a small proportion of the observed variability in parasite aggregation levels remains to be accounted for by other factors. Using the residuals of this regression as measures of ‘unexplained’ aggregation, a mixed effects model revealed no significant effect of within-sample variation in host body size or of parasite taxon or stage (i.e. juvenile versus adult) on parasite aggregation level within a sample. However, much of the remaining variability in parasite aggregation levels among samples was accounted for by the number of individual hosts examined per sample, and species-specific and study-specific effects reflecting idiosyncrasies of particular systems. This suggests that with most differences in aggregation among samples already explained, there may be little point in seeking universal causes for the remaining variation.

scholarly journals The association between being currently in school and HIV prevalence among young women in nine eastern and southern African countries

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. e0198898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Mee ◽  
Elizabeth Fearon ◽  
Syreen Hassan ◽  
Bernadette Hensen ◽  
Xeno Acharya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Women ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
African Countries

scholarly journals Use of Antenatal Clinic Surveillance to Assess the Effect of Sexual Behavior on HIV Prevalence in Young Women in Karonga District, Malawi

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia Catharine Crampin ◽  
Andreas Jahn ◽  
Masiya Kondowe ◽  
Bagrey M Ngwira ◽  
Joanne Hemmings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Antenatal Clinic ◽  
Hiv Prevalence

scholarly journals Men who have sex with men in China have relatively low numbers of sexual partners

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Eric Pui Fung Chow ◽  
David P. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Median Number ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
The Past ◽  
Male Sexual Partners ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Over Time

HIV prevalence is increasing rapidly among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China and potentially associated with the number of male sexual partners that each man has on average. This study estimates the distribution of the number of male sexual partners among Chinese MSM through a comprehensive review of English and Chinese published literature. The overall median number of male sexual partners of Chinese MSM in the past 6 months China was estimated to be 1.5 (95% CI, 1.1-1.9) and 3.8 (95% CI 1.5-6.9) sexual partners in the past 6-month and 12-month periods respectively. An estimated 31% of sexual partners of MSM in China are regular partners, 54% are casual partners, and 16% are commercial partners. The reported numbers of sexual partners has not changed over time during the past decade. The numbers of male sexual partners reported by Chinese MSM is consistently lower than other settings and may not be sufficient to explain the recent rapid increase in HIV prevalence.

scholarly journals Inequalities in women’s empowerment and prevalence of HIV in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 3069
Author(s):  
Shri Kant Singh ◽  
Deepanjali Vishwakarma ◽  
Bhawana Sharma ◽  
Santosh Kumar Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Gender Gap ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Spousal Violence ◽  
Sexual Rights ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Hiv Aids

Background: Over the years, there has been growing evidence of continuous narrowing gender gap in new HIV infections, despite stagnation in overall HIV prevalence in India. Among others, one of the reasons behind the exiting pattern in HIV/AIDS in the country is the poor status of women, lack of control over their sexuality and poor reproductive and sexual rights.Methods: This paper analyses the troika of women’s empowerment, spousal-violence, and HIV prevalence in India using data from two rounds (2005-2006 and 2015-2016) of Indian DHS having a community-based HIV testing.Results: Results corroborate the recent spurts in women’s empowerment in India, which cuts across socio-economic groups. It has positively influenced a decline in spousal-violence even in the lowest socio-economic strata despite significant inequality across states. HIV prevalence among women has not been changed over the last decade (0.22% to 0.23%) despite decreased adult HIV prevalence. Women having control over their sexuality is significantly less likely to have HIV infection. Relationship between marital control behavior of husband and HIV prevalence, which was significant in 2005-06 (OR=1.2, p<0.10), has emerged to be insignificant in 2015-16. This means that increasing women's empowerment has altered their HIV prevalence through increasing sexual-rights and reducing the intensity of marital control behavior.Conclusions: A combative relationship has been established between women’s empowerment and their risk of HIV/AIDS. The results have been consistently showing the variations of inequality in women’s empowerment across different states, consequently affecting the risk of HIV/AIDS. Ensuring sexual-rights of women should be the best strategy.

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