A household survey for AIDS-related complex in Rwanda.

Abstract

This article reviews human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Africa and presents a household survey for AIDS-related complex (ARC). The spread of HIV infection is traced through urban and rural areas of Africa. Prevalence rates are provided for such countries as Zaire Zambia Tanzania Uganda Kenya and Nairobi as well as for mothers and children in these regions. Transmission of HIV is described as primarily heterosexual. The role of sociomedical co-factors such as female circumcision prostitution and homosexuality in enhancing the spread of HIV infection is discussed. Household health surveys are deemed a productive approach to determining the prevalence of ARC in developing countries. It is hoped that such studies will yield a fuller understanding of the scope of the medical problem and the variety of clinical manifestations of HIV infection. In September 1985 preliminary research was conducted in Kigali Rwanda to ascertain the prevalence of undiagnosed ARC. 158 people from 30 household were surveyed ranging in age from 2 weeks to 69 years with a mean age of 19.4 and a mean family size of 5.3 from a range of 1 to 11. 21 households were Hutu and 9 were Tutsi. The results indicated that 2 individuals (1.27%) both single men with many contacts with prostitutes were found to have ARC. It was concluded that HIV infection appears to follow a similar pattern in Rwanda as it has in the US; initially there are many more persons with ARC than with AIDS. However it is likely that as the epidemic grows in Rwanda the gap between the number of AIDS cases will close.