PubMed · 2333106
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
J S Fulghum. 1990. AIDS: testing and reporting.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2333106/
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
In 1989 the Ministry of Health in Tanzania decided that all patients suspected to be HIV-infected should be counselled in order to prevent or reduce the risk of HIV-transmission and to help people cope with the disease. This article describes the introduction of a counselling service at the Regional Hospitals of Arusha and Kilimanjaro and provides an overview of our experiences during the period 1990-92. Patients at the two hospitals received pre-test, post-test and follow-up counselling. Of 1,194 persons pre-test counselled, 95% gave their informed consent to be tested 62% were HIV-positive. Data on clinical pretest assessment of the patients matched the HIV-test assessment of the patients matched the HIV-test results for those assessed to have full blown AIDS, but there was more discrepancy for patients assessed to have early signs of AIDS or to be in the terminal phase. The majority of the HIV-positive patients accepted their diagnosis when informed. The routines at the hospitals are still functional five years after the introduction of the counselling service.
The MUTAN (Tanzanian Norwegian AIDS Project) virology programme has comprised research, intervention, surveillance and education as part of the Tanzanian National AIDS Control Programme. HIV testing of blood donors was introduced in 1988 in the regions Arusha and Kilimanjaro. Simple and rapid HIV-tests have been evaluated continuously, as well as the possible use of alternative specimen samples for testing. The polymerase chain reaction for detection of HIV proviral DNA was established at the Northern Zone Reference Hospital, The Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Moshi, in 1993.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of HIV infection among intravenous (IDU) and non-intravenous drug users in Heerlen and Maastricht (Southern Netherlands), to detect subgroups of IDU with a higher risk of HIV infection, and to assess the risk of further spread of HIV. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Heerlen, Kerkrade, Brunssum and Maastricht, the Netherlands. METHODS: Between August 15 and November 25, 1994, a saliva specimen and a short questionnaire were obtained from 449 drug users (340 IDU) in Heerlen (and environs) and Maastricht. Participants were recruited through methadone care (54%), syringe exchange (16%), a street prostitution project (3%), street recruitment (23%) and other drug users (4%). RESULTS: Of the 340 IDU 33 were infected (prevalence: 10% (95% confidence interval: 7-13)), among the 109 non-IDU no infections were found (0% (0-3)). IDU making use of the syringe exchange had a higher prevalence (odds ratio 3.13 (1.37-7.61)). In logistic regression analysis, this finding could not be explained by selection on more risky injecting. One in five currently injecting IDU reported having used someone else's used needle or syringe in the last 6 months. One in five IDU had a non-drug user as steady sexual partner. In sexual contacts between steady partners condom use was low. On the basis of self-reported serostatus it appeared that some infections have taken place in the last two years. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HIV infections among IDU in Heerlen and Maastricht is about 10%. IDU using the syringe exchange have a higher prevalence. This means this prevention reaches the high-risk group, but probably can not avoid all infections. The risk of further spread among IDU is high. The risk of spread to non-IDU and non-drug users is present.