Seroepidemiologic Survey of Viral STDs in Rural Ethiopia: A Population Based Comparative Study on the Prevalence of HIV-1, HSV-2 and HBV in Gundo Meskel and Shebe Towns, Ethiopia

Atsbeha, Hannibal (2005) Seroepidemiologic Survey of Viral STDs in Rural Ethiopia: A Population Based Comparative Study on the Prevalence of HIV-1, HSV-2 and HBV in Gundo Meskel and Shebe Towns, Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

A population-based cross-sectional comparative study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HIV, HSV-2 and HBV among the population of two rural towns of Ethiopia. The male to female ratio of the study participants was nearly 1:1, both for the total population and for the individual study areas. The median age for the study participants was 28 years. Antibody to HIV, HSV-2 and HBV was detected with ELISA. The HIV prevalence rate was 17% in Gundo Meskel and 3% in Shebe town. HSV-2 prevalence was 39% in Gundo Meskel population and 17% in Shebe. The prevalence of HBV infection among Gundo Meskel and Shebe population was 56% and 36% respectively. The prevalence of HIV was found to be higher among commercial sex workers, housewives and unemployed individuals in Gundo Meskel town. In Shebe, gender appeared to be associated with HIV infection with more females being infected than males. HSV-2 infection appeared to be high among housewives, unemployed individuals and unskilled laborers among the Gundo Meskel population. Age was found to be associated with HSV-2 infection both in Shebe and Gundo Meskel towns such that, as age increased the odds of HSV-2 infection also increased. The HBV prevalence observed among the population of the two study areas makes Gundo Meskel a hyper-endemic area whereas Shebe is of intermediate-high endemicity. A weak statistical association was observed for some of the sexual behavioral determinants of HBV infection. The only single traditional practice among Gundo Meskel population that was found to be associated with HBV infection was scarification. The high prevalence of HIV and the other two viruses among Gundo Meskel population may suggest that there are hot spots in rural Ethiopia where the transmission of viral STDs is intense. Therefore, strong disease control strategies should be designed and actions should be taken to avert the extent of the problem including provision of better education, provision of better job opportunities especially for women and vaccination of children for HBV.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology
Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR180 Immunology
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Emmanuel Ndorimana
Date Deposited: 02 Jul 2018 13:27
Last Modified: 02 Jul 2018 13:27
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/6437

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