Evaluation of uptake and attitude to voluntary counseling and testing among health care professional students in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania.

Background: Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is a corner stone for successful implementation of prevention, care and support services among HIV negative and positive individuals. VCT is also perceived to be an effective strategy in risk reduction among sexually active young people..

Evolution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 serotypes in northern Tanzania: a retrospective study.

The HIV-1 epidemic in Tanzania is characterized by the circulation of heterogeneous virus subtypes. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the changing pattern of circulating HIV-1 subtypes in northern Tanzania. A peptide-binding enzyme immunoassay (PEIA) was employed to analyse 305 HIV-1 positive serum and plasma samples collected between 1985 and 2005.

The influence of peers and other significant persons on sexuality and condom-use among young adults in northern Tanzania.

Sexual behaviour change remains a primary goal of HIV prevention efforts globally. It is a complex issue influenced by numerous unpredictable variables such as individual desires, social and cultural relationships, and environmental and economic dynamics. This study in northern Tanzania was conducted in June and July 2004 as part of a baseline survey carried out in 10 districts in eight regions of the country, Using a list of 65 villages in the northern zone, we randomly selected participants from four villages: one village each from three Area Development Programmes within World Vision Tanzania and one village from a high HIV transmission area (HTA).

Changes in male sexual behaviour in response to the AIDS epidemic: evidence from a cohort study in urban Tanzania.

Objective: To examine changes in sexual behaviour among men in urban Tanzania.

Design: An observational cohort study among factory workers during 1991-1994.

Methods: Data from five follow-up visits with structured questionnaire-guided interviews and biomedical data were analysed to examine trends in sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted disease/HIV among 752 men.

HIV-1 incidence and HIV-1 associated mortality in a cohort of urban factory workers in Tanzania.

Objective: To determine HIV-1 incidence and HIV-1 associated mortality in a prospective cohort study. To determine whether the cohort is suitable for studies aiming to determine the impact of interventions on HIV-1 incidence.

Methods: The study population was a cohort of 1772 urban factory workers (1478 men and 294 women) in northwest Tanzania.

Sexual partner change and condom use among urban factory workers in northwest Tanzania.

Objective: To describe sexual partner change and condom use at the intake of a cohort study of urban factory workers in Tanzania.

Methods: From October 1991 to March 1992, 926 male and 170 female factory workers were interviewed using a structured, pre-coded questionnaire. Questionnaire reliability was assessed by pre-testing and comparison with results of unstructured interviews and carrying out repeat questionnaires on a sub-sample.

Intake of a cohort study of urban factory workers in northwest Tanzania. Risk factors for HIV-1 infection.

A cohort study has been started of urban factory workers and their spouses in Tanzania, in order to 1) identify risk factors for HIV-1 seroconversion, and 2) document changes over time in risk behaviour, in particular condom use and partner change, and determine whether these are associated with a reduced incidence of HIV-1 and other sexually transmitted diseases. We report findings at intake from October 1991 to March 1992. Study participants were interviewed, examined, and screened for HIV-1 and syphilis.

A population-based study of syphilis and sexually transmitted disease syndromes in north-western Tanzania. 2. Risk factors and health seeking behaviour.

Objective: To determine risk factors for syphilis and sexually transmitted disease (STD) syndromes, and to study health seeking behaviour among those with STD syndromes, in the population of Mwanza Region, North-Western Tanzania.

Methods: A population-based random cluster sample survey, stratified by rural, roadside or urban residence, of 4173 individuals aged 15-54 years was performed in 1990-91. The seroprevalence of syphilis and the prevalence and incidence of self-reported genital ulcer syndrome (GUS) and genital discharge syndrome (GDS) are reported in the accompanying paper.

A population-based study of syphilis and sexually transmitted disease syndromes in north-western Tanzania. 1. Prevalence and incidence.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of syphilis and the prevalence and incidence of self-reported STD syndromes in the population of Mwanza Region, North-Western Tanzania.

Methods: A population-based random cluster sample survey, stratified by rural, roadside or urban residence, of 4173 individuals aged 15-54 years was performed in 1990-91. The seroprevalence of syphilis (using TPHA and RPR) and the prevalence and incidence of self-reported genital ulcer syndrome (GUS) and genital discharge syndrome (GDS) were determined.

HIV-1 infection as a risk factor for leprosy; a case-control study in Tanzania.

A case-control study was carried out in Tanzania to determine the relative risk of those with HIV-1 infection for getting leprosy. Cases were 93 consecutively diagnosed patients with leprosy aged 15-54 years from the Mwanza Region. Controls were a representative population sample of 4161 people drawn from a stratified cluster sample from urban areas, roadside settlements, and rural villages.

Sentinel surveillance for HIV-1 among pregnant women in a developing country: 3 years' experience and comparison with a population serosurvey.

Objectives: To establish unlinked, anonymous sentinel surveillance for HIV-1 among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic, to determine age-specific seroprevalences, to monitor trends and to compare seroprevalence with that detected by a population serosurvey. To establish the sustainability and costs of surveillance.

Design: Sentinel surveillance for HIV through serial collection of unlinked, anonymous seroprevalence data from antenatal care; comparison of sentinel data with those from a population serosurvey; financial and general audit of the sentinel surveillance.

Sentinel surveillance for HIV-1 infection: how representative are blood donors, outpatients with fever, anaemia, or sexually transmitted diseases, and antenatal clinic attenders in Mwanza Region, Tanzania?

Objective: To assess the validity of extrapolation from sentinel data by comparing the HIV-1 prevalence of various sentinel groups with that of the general population in Mwanza Region, Tanzania.

Methods: In a population survey, 4161 individuals were selected in a stratified random cluster sample. Sentinel groups (all in the age group 15-54 years) included blood donors (n = 1090); patients examined at district hospitals for the presence of malaria parasites (n = 1488), anaemia (n = 1339), or syphilis (n = 33); and antenatal clinic attenders (n = 1193).

The epidemiology of HIV-1 infection in urban areas, roadside settlements and rural villages in Mwanza Region, Tanzania.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of HIV-1 infection and to identify the most important risk factors for infection.

Design: A cross-sectional population survey carried out in 1990 and 1991 in Mwanza Region, Tanzania.

Methods: Adults aged 15-54 years were selected from the region (population, 2 million) by stratified random cluster sampling: 2434 from 20 rural villages, 1157 from 20 roadside settlements and 1554 from 20 urban wards.

Kagera 1989 health survey: 1. Human immunodeficiency virus seroprevalence in adolescents.

One thousand four hundred and fifty five adolescents were surveyed for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in an area experiencing AIDS epidemic. The study was done in order to estimate control measures. Among the 1455 adolescents serosurveyed, 47 (3.