Prevalence and factors asssociated with HIV sero- discordance among couples attending Iganga General Hospital-Iganga District, Eastern Uganda
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Date
2017-07
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Kampala International University, School of Allied Health Sciences
Abstract
Background: HIV sero-discordance refers to a situation where in a pair of long term sexual partners, one is HIV positive and the other is HIV negative. There is an increased risk of HIV transmission to the HIV negative partner in discordant couples which makes HIV sero-discordance a hindrance to HIV control and prevention strategies. Sero-discordance is one of the factors affecting the impact of HIV prevention strategies, therefore effective HIV prevention strategies must consider HIV discordance. Limited knowledge about prevalence of HIV sero-discordance in the community hinders formulation of appropriate strategies for effective control of HIV transmission. The study was aimed at determining the prevalence of HIV sero-discordance and its associated factors among couples attending Iganga General Hospital. The knowledge generated will guide the stakeholders in formulating HIV prevention and control strategies aimed at reducing HIV transmission.
Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out through conduction of guided interviews using a questionnaire to random-systematically selected 250couples attending IGH. Data was analyzed and presented in tables with percentages comparing different factors.
Results: The HIV sero-prevalence was 6.8%. The prevalence of discordance was 4.8% among participant couples and 52.2% among the infected couples. HIV sero-discordance was associated with sexual practice (83.3%), circumcision status of the male partner in the couple (58.3%), condom use (58.3%), use of ARVs by the HIV infected partner (25%) and experience of STIs among partners (25%).
Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV sero-discordance among the participant couples was 4.8%, associated mainly with sexual practice, circumcision and condom use.
Description
A research report submitted to the School Of Allied Health Sciences in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health of Kampala International University, Uganda
Keywords
HIV sero- discordance, Couples, Iganga General Hospital, Iganga District, Eastern Uganda