Burden of infection among heads and non-head of rural households in Rakai, Uganda

Bibliographic Data

ID19441507
AuthorsFred Nalugoda (0000-0001-6119-9293, Rakai Health Sciences Program), Ronald H Gray (0000-0003-1952-6507, Johns Hopkins University, corresponding author), David Serwadda (0000-0001-6532-6587, Makerere University), Nelson K Sewankambo (0000-0001-9362-053X, Makerere University), F Wabwire-Mangen (Makerere University), Fred Wabwire‐mangen (Makerere University), Noah Kiwanuka (0000-0003-2471-9290, Rakai Health Sciences Program), T Lutalo (a Rakai Project , Uganda Virus Research Institute , Entebbe), Godfrey Kigozi (0009-0008-9142-6870, Rakai Health Sciences Program), Chuanjun Li (0000-0002-1444-8936, Johns Hopkins University), Fred Makumbi (Rakai Health Sciences Program), Mohammed Kiddugavu (Rakai Health Sciences Program), Lynn Paxton (Columbia University), S Zawedde (a Rakai Project , Uganda Virus Research Institute , Entebbe), Maria J Wawer (0000-0002-3601-4469, Columbia University), M Wawer (Columbia University)
Year2004
Volume16
Issue1
Pages107-115
Publication date2004-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540120310001634010
PMID14660148
OpenAlexW2047715734
LanguageEN
References cited6

The objective was to determine HIV prevalence, symptomatology and mortality among adult heads and non-heads of households, in order to assess the burden of HIV on households. It was a community study of 11,536 adults aged 15-59, residing in 4,962 households in 56 villages, Rakai district, Uganda. First, 4,962 heads and 6,574 non-heads of households were identified from censuses. Interviews were then used to determine socio-demographic/behavioural characteristics. HIV seroprevalence was diagnosed by two EIAs with Western blot confirmation. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of HIV infection in household heads and non-heads were estimated by multivariate logistic regression. Age-adjusted mortality was also assessed. HIV prevalence was 16.9% in the population, and 21.5% of households had at least one HIV-infected person (<0.0001). HIV prevalence was higher among heads than non-heads of households (21.5 and 13.3%, respectively, OR=1.79; CI 1.62-1.97). Most household heads were males (70.5%), and HIV prevalence was 17.8% among male heads compared with 6.6% in male non-heads of households (OR=2.31; CI 1.65-2.52). Women heading households were predominantly widowed, separated or divorced (64.4%). HIV prevalence was 30.5% among female heads, compared with 15.6% in female non-household heads (OR=1.42; CI 1.15-1.63). Age-adjusted mortality was significantly lower among male household heads than non-heads, both for the HIV-positive (RR=0.68) and HIV-negative men (RR=0.63). Among women, HIV-negative female household heads had significantly higher mortality than HIV-uninfected female non-heads (RR=1.72). HIV disproportionately affects heads of households, particularly males. Mortality due to AIDS is likely to increase the proportion of female-headed households, and adversely affect the welfare of domestic units

Biology · Geography · Socioeconomics · Sociology · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy