HIV testing continues to be a challenge among the young population in Tanzania. As of 2017, only 30% of 15-19-year-olds reported getting tested and receiving their results. This study will examine the demographic and socio-behavioral characteristics associated with HIV testing among adolescents and young adults in Tanzania. Interview data from the 2016-2017 Tanzania HIV Impact Survey (THIS) were analyzed on 10,128 adolescents and young adults 15-24 years of age, representing 10.5 million youth in Tanzania. Weighted logistic regression was used to model the relationship of HIV testing with demographic and socio-behavioral characteristics. Half (50%) of respondents reported ever having been tested for HIV. HIV testing was significantly lower among males compared with females (AOR = 0.5;95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.5-0.6; p<0.001), 15-19 year olds compared with 20-24 year olds (AOR = 0.4;95% CI = 0.4-0.5; p<0.001), no education compared with secondary or post-secondary education (AOR = 0.4;95% CI = 0.3-0.6; p<0.001), rural residents compared with urban residents (AOR = 0.7;95% CI = 0.6-0.9; p<0.001) and those who don't use condoms during sexual intercourse compared with those who do (AOR = 0.6;95% CI = 0.5-0.8; p<0.001). Among HIV-infected youth, younger age group, rural residents, education less than primary, single, high income, and sex workers were significantly associated with never testing for HIV. This study highlights the majority of characteristics affecting HIV testing among young people in Tanzania have not changed over the years, thus it is necessary to re-examine the current approaches to HIV testing. The COVID-19 pandemic will add to this challenge as it collides with the ongoing HIV epidemic and competes for needed medical supplies and health care provider resources. In light of this current situation, intensified and targeted HIV testing programs for at risk young populations in Tanzania should be prioritized.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000536 | DOI Listing |
J Infect Dis
January 2025
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Background: The association between bacterial vaginosis (BV) and increased HIV acquisition risk may be related to concentrations of HIV-susceptible immune cells in the cervix.
Methods: Participants (31 with BV and 30 with normal microbiota) underwent cervical biopsy at a single visit. Immune cells were quantified and sorted using flow cytometry (N=55), localization assessed by immunofluorescence (N=16), and function determined by bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of live CD45+ cells (N=21).
Open Forum Infect Dis
January 2025
HIV and STD Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Bellvitge University Hospital/Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
Background: This study was conducted to evaluate screening procedures for anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) with anal liquid-based cytology (aLBC) and biomarkers to identify candidates for high-resolution anoscopy (HRA).
Methods: This cross-sectional study included men who have sex with men with HIV. Participants underwent HRA, aLBC, and biomarker testing.
Indian J Nephrol
August 2024
Department of Nephrology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Background: Viral infections can increase the likelihood of an individual developing membranous nephropathy (MN). Limited information is available regarding the treatment approaches for such cases. We conducted a review focusing on hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated MN.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransfusion
January 2025
Infectious Disease Consultant, North Potomac, Maryland, USA.
Background: US blood donors are tested for syphilis because the bacterial agent is transfusion transmissible. Here we describe trends over an 11-year period of donations positive for recent and past syphilis infections, and donations classified as syphilis false positive (FP).
Methods: Data from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2023 (11 years) were compiled for all American Red Cross blood donations to evaluate demographics/characteristics and longitudinal trends in donors testing syphilis reactive/positive.
Arch Sex Behav
January 2025
Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (INI-Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Perceived risk for HIV acquisition among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) may not align with their actual sexual HIV exposure. Factors associated with low/moderate perceived risk among GBMSM eligible for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) (based on their high estimated HIV exposure) have been poorly described in Latin America. This is a secondary analysis of a 2018 web-based cross-sectional survey in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru.
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