Risk factors for HIV-seropositivity among women in rural villages of Cameroon, 2000–2001

Purpose We report on risk factors for HIV seroprevalent infection in women in 73 rural villages in Cameroon. While epidemiological studies of women in Sub-Saharan Africa have identified single marital status and age 15–24 years as risk factors for HIV-seropositivity, the intranational geography of HIV has received little attention in most African countries. Methods The HIV1/2 rapid assay, standard ELISA, and Western blot were used to determine the prevalence of HIV antibodies in 73 rural villages located in 6 of the 10 provinces of Cameroon, Africa during 2000–2001. Information regarding demographic data and risk factors was obtained using structured questionnaires during face-to-face interviews. Results Odds ratios (ORs) significantly different from the null value of 1.0 were associated with: (a) age, with 25–39 years old women at risk of HIV-seropositivity compared to 15–24 year old women (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.24–2.70); (b) education, (OR for women with a primary school education = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.24–3.04), compared to illiterate women; and (c) marital status (OR for married women compared to single women = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.30–0.66). In addition, significant odds ratios for HIV-seropositivity were associated with the geographic location of the villages. After adjustment for other variables (OR per degree increase in latitude = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.06–0.55; OR per degree increase in longitude = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.39–0.84, OR for the interaction between latitude and longitude = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.05–1.28) indicating decreased risk with increasing distance from Cameroonʹs Atlantic coastline, and with increasing distance from the equator. Conclusion Our findings thus suggest geographic patterns of HIV-seroprevalence, the knowledge of which may be helpful in targeting treatment and prevention activities in that country.