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Thesla Palanee, Thiroshini Govender, Tusani Kunene, Marlena
Gehret, and Gita
Ramjee. "HIV and STI prevalence among women screened
for inclusion in the Phase 3 Carraguard® trial in Durban, South Africa."
ABSTRACT
Background
As part of the exclusion criteria for enrollment in the Phase 3
trial of the Population Council’s lead microbicide Carraguard®,
consenting women from Isipingo, Durban were screened for HIV,
pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), cervical cancer,
or high-grade cervical lesions.
Methods
2,962 women were screened between 7 October 2004 and 30 June
2006. A demographic and behavioral questionnaire was administered
to all women in addition to laboratory testing for STIs and
gynecological testing for vaginal and/or cervical abnormalities.
Blood was collected for HIV and syphilis screening.
Results
The study population comprised 1.79 percent Indian, 97.3 percent
black and 0.81 percent colored participants. Mean age of the 2,962 women screened
was 29.4 (range 16–66 years). All women reported being sexually
active. 50.1 percent (n=1,485) were enrolled into the study, while 49.9
percent
(n=1,477) were excluded. 1,186 (40.04 percent) of the women screened were HIV-positive, and 98 (3.31
percent) were pregnant. 14.42 percent (n=422) of the women
screened practiced unprotected oral sex, and 5.26 percent (n=154) practiced
unprotected anal sex. Of the 2,962 women, 79.7 percent were never married,
6.7 percent were living as married, and 10.7 percent were legally married. 3.32
percent
(n=97) of the 2,962 women indicated having had sex for money, and
9.9 percent reported physical abuse from steady partners. Most women
reported difficulty in negotiation of condom use.
Prevalence of gonorrhea, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas
vaginalis, syphilis, and the reproductive tract infection bacterial vaginosis at screening was 145 (4.9
percent), 248 (8.37 percent), 320 (10.8 percent), 69
(2.3 percent), and 859 (29 percent), respectively. Of the 2,962 women screened, 2.0
percent
(n=60) had high-grade squamous cell intraepithelial lesions and were
referred for further examination.
Conclusion
This HIV/STI prevalence data in the community of Isipingo based
on women screened for inclusion in the Phase 3 trial suggests
urgent need for HIV prevention education and women-controlled
prevention options such as vaginal microbicides.
3rd South African AIDS Conference Web site
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