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Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: A report based on a survey in women attending ANC services in Eritrea in 2005
Abstract
Study objective: To determine the prevalence and socio-demographic factors of HIV in ANC attendees in Eritrea.
Methods: Cross sectional anonymous unlinked sentinel surveillance of HIV prevalence in ANC attendee pregnant women frpm March 2005 to May 2006. The study was conducted in 15 clusters; 10 urban and 5 rural clusters with a total of 19 urban and 26 rural sentinel sites that includes all six capital cities and a number of semi urban and rural sentinel sites from all six zones of Eritrea. Cluster sampling, non probability consecutive sampling of pregnant women who came to attend their first ANC in the study sites.
Result: The total sample size was 5033. The over all HIV prevalence in pregnant women attending ANC was
2.38%. The highest prevalence was observed in Southern Red Sea zone (5.9%) followed by central zone (3.48%).
Lowest prevalence was seen in Anseba zone (1.3%), South zone (1.65%), Northern Red Sea zone (1.77%), and
Gash Barka zone (2.06%). It was found to be 3.04% in urban women and 0.9% in rural women. It was also higher
in single women 7.2% than in married women 2%. HIV prevalence increased with age (1.3%) in women aged
15-19, 2% in 20-24, 3.8% in 25-29, 2.5% in 30-34, 1.5% in 35-39, 2.7% in 40-44 and 1.8% in 15-24 years age group
women. Further the prevalence fluctuated with level of formal education and occupation; 0.9% in illiterate and
4% in women with secondary school education, 1.94% in house wives, 5.9% in women daily labourers, 5.6% in
unemployed unmarried women, and 8.5% in commercial sexual workers. 5.4% in women whose partners are truck/bus drivers, 3.8%% in women whose partners are merchants and 2.6% in women whose partner’s are in the military/national service.
Conclusion: HIV prevalence in Eritrea is low and declining from the highest 4.2% in 1999 to 2.38% in 2005 ANS
sentinel surveillance. HIV prevalence was more prevalent in urban areas, in single, young women and increased
with increasing age and educational level and was influenced by the women’s and partners occupation.
Methods: Cross sectional anonymous unlinked sentinel surveillance of HIV prevalence in ANC attendee pregnant women frpm March 2005 to May 2006. The study was conducted in 15 clusters; 10 urban and 5 rural clusters with a total of 19 urban and 26 rural sentinel sites that includes all six capital cities and a number of semi urban and rural sentinel sites from all six zones of Eritrea. Cluster sampling, non probability consecutive sampling of pregnant women who came to attend their first ANC in the study sites.
Result: The total sample size was 5033. The over all HIV prevalence in pregnant women attending ANC was
2.38%. The highest prevalence was observed in Southern Red Sea zone (5.9%) followed by central zone (3.48%).
Lowest prevalence was seen in Anseba zone (1.3%), South zone (1.65%), Northern Red Sea zone (1.77%), and
Gash Barka zone (2.06%). It was found to be 3.04% in urban women and 0.9% in rural women. It was also higher
in single women 7.2% than in married women 2%. HIV prevalence increased with age (1.3%) in women aged
15-19, 2% in 20-24, 3.8% in 25-29, 2.5% in 30-34, 1.5% in 35-39, 2.7% in 40-44 and 1.8% in 15-24 years age group
women. Further the prevalence fluctuated with level of formal education and occupation; 0.9% in illiterate and
4% in women with secondary school education, 1.94% in house wives, 5.9% in women daily labourers, 5.6% in
unemployed unmarried women, and 8.5% in commercial sexual workers. 5.4% in women whose partners are truck/bus drivers, 3.8%% in women whose partners are merchants and 2.6% in women whose partner’s are in the military/national service.
Conclusion: HIV prevalence in Eritrea is low and declining from the highest 4.2% in 1999 to 2.38% in 2005 ANS
sentinel surveillance. HIV prevalence was more prevalent in urban areas, in single, young women and increased
with increasing age and educational level and was influenced by the women’s and partners occupation.
