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Distinct HIV discordancy patterns by epidemic size in stable sexual partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Hiam Chemaitelly, Ide Cremin, Jim Shelton, Timothy B Hallett, Laith J Abu-Raddad
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2012;88:51-57 doi:10.1136/sextrans-2011-050114
Topic(s): HIV/AIDS
Sexual behavior
Country: Africa
  Multiple African Countries
Published: JAN 2012
Abstract: Abstract Objective To describe patterns of HIV infection among stable sexual partnerships across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Methods The authors defined measures of HIV discordancy and conducted a comprehensive quantitative assessment of discordancy among stable partnerships in 20 countries in SSA through an analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey data. Results HIV prevalence explained at least 50% of the variation in HIV discordancy, with two distinct patterns of discordancy emerging based on HIV prevalence being roughly smaller or larger than 10%. In low-prevalence countries, approximately 75% of partnerships affected by HIV are discordant, while only about half of these are discordant in high-prevalence countries. Out of each 10 HIV infected persons, two to five are engaged in discordant partnerships in low-prevalence countries compared with one to three in high-prevalence countries. Among every 100 partnerships in the population, one to nine are affected by HIV and zero to six are discordant in low-prevalence countries compared with 16–45 and 9–17, respectively, in high-prevalence countries. Finally, zero to four of every 100 sexually active adults are engaged in a discordant partnership in low-prevalence countries compared with six to eight in high-prevalence countries. Conclusions In high-prevalence countries, a large fraction of stable partnerships were affected by HIV and half were discordant, whereas in low-prevalence countries, fewer stable partnerships were affected by HIV but a higher proportion of them were discordant. The findings provide a global view of HIV infection among stable partnerships in SSA but imply complex considerations for rolling out prevention interventions targeting discordant partnerships.
Web: http://sti.bmj.com/content/88/1/51.full