Impact of HIV/Aids on Child Mortality before the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Era: A Study in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo.

Few studies have documented the contribution of HIV/AIDS to mortality among children under 15 years. From June 30 to October 19, 2001, all child deaths (n = 588) registered to the morgue and/or hospitals of the city of Pointe-Noire, Congo, were investigated using a combined approach including an interview of relatives and postmortem clinical and biological HIV diagnosis. Twenty-one percent of children were HIV positive, while 10.

Comparison of family reporting of pregnancy status with a post-mortem beta-HCG test in deceased women: a study in Pointe-Noire, Congo.

Objective: To compare family reports of pregnancy status in deceased women with a biological assessment of pregnancy using a post-mortem beta-HCG test.

Method: We investigated the deaths of females of reproductive age registered at the Pointe Noire morgue from June 30 to October 18, 2001. A physician interviewed relatives about the circumstances of death, in particular whether the woman had been pregnant at the time of death, and whether she had delivered or had an abortion (induced or spontaneous) within the past 6 weeks.

Impact of AIDS on adult mortality: a morgue-based study in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo.

Objective: To measure the impact of AIDS on adult mortality by systematically investigating all deaths during 3 months, in the city of Pointe-Noire where the HIV epidemic emerged 20 years ago and levelled-off around 5% among adults.

Design: : Exhaustive morgue-based study, in a city where by law all bodies should be registered at the morgue before they can be legally buried.

Methods: From 30 June to 19 October 2001, a clinical examination of all bodies registered at the morgue was performed by a physician, and blood samples were systematically drawn for HIV testing.

HIV and the magnitude of pregnancy-related mortality in Pointe Noire, Congo.

Objectives: The extent to which HIV affects pregnancy-related mortality in countries with high HIV/AIDS and maternal mortality is poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to investigate the mortality of women of reproductive age by both HIV and pregnancy status, and quantify the excess mortality attributable to HIV during pregnancy in Pointe Noire, Congo.

Design: Prospective mortuary investigation of all deaths in women aged 15-44 years, during 112 consecutive days.