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OBJECTIVE: To describe sexual behaviour trends in a rural Ugandan cohort in the context of an evolving HIV epidemic, 1993-2006. METHODS: Sexual behaviour data were collected annually from a population cohort in which HIV serological surveys were also conducted. Behaviour trends were determined using survival analysis and logistic regression. Trends are reported based on the years in which the respective indicators were collected. RESULTS: Between 1993 and 2006, median age at first sex increased from 16.7 years to 18.2 years among 17-20-year-old girls and from 18.5 years to 19.9 years among boys. Both sexes reported a dip in age at sexual debut between 1998 and 2001. One or more casual partners in the past 12 months among men rose from 11.6% in 1997 to 12.7% in 2004 and then declined to 10.2% in 2006. Among women it increased from 1.4% in 1997 to 3.7% in 2004 and then reduced to 1.4% in 2006. The rise in casual partners between 1997 and 2004 was driven mainly by older age groups. Trends in condom use with casual partners varied by age, increasing among those aged 35+ years, declining in the middle age groups and presenting a dip and then a rise in the youngest aged group (13-19 years). CONCLUSION: Among youth, risky behaviour declined but increased in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Among those aged 35+ years, condom use rose but casual partners also rose. Several indicators portrayed a temporary increase in risk taking behaviour from 1998 to 2002.

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BACKGROUND: Epidemiological surveillance in Uganda has consistently shown declining HIV prevalence particularly among young antenatal women since the early 1990s, correlated with increased uptake of protective sexual behaviour. OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in sexual behaviour nationwide and antenatal HIV prevalence from urban sentinel sites in Uganda (1989-2002). METHODS: Review of antenatal HIV seroprevalence data from the sentinel surveillance system (1989-2002) and data on sexual behavioural indicators from the AIDS module of the National Demographic and Health Surveys (1989, 1995 and 2000/01). Trends in biological and behavioural indicators assessed. RESULTS: Antenatal HIV seroprevalence in seven urban clinics peaked around 1992 (15-30%) followed by a steady decline by 2002 (5-12%), most markedly among women aged 15-19 and 20-24 years. This coincided with increased primary and secondary abstinence among young people nationwide. Median age at sexual debut increased from 16.5 in 1989 to 17.3 in 2000 for women and from 17.6 in 1995 to 18.3 in 2000 for men. Premarital sex among women and multiple partnerships decreased between 1995 and 2000. There were no significant changes in reporting of extramarital sex among men. Ever use of condoms increased from 1% among women in 1989 and 16% among men in 1995 to 16% and 40% in 2000, respectively. Between 1995 and 2000, condom use at last sex with a non-regular partner increased from 35% to 59% and 20% to 39% among men and women, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ecological correlation between the trends in HIV prevalence and incidence and the increase in protective sexual behaviour during the 1990s makes a compelling case for continuing prevention efforts in Uganda.

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The fight against HIV/AIDS poses enormous challenges worldwide, generating fears that success may be too difficult or even impossible to attain. Uganda has demonstrated that an early, consistent and multisectoral control strategy can reduce both the prevalence and the incidence of HIV infection. From only two AIDS cases in 1982, the epidemic in Uganda grew to a cumulative 2 million HIV infections by the end of 2000. The AIDS Control Programme established in 1987 in the Ministry of Health mounted a national response that expanded over time to reach other relevant sectors under the coordinating role of the Uganda AIDS Commission. The national response was to bring in new policies, expanded partnerships, increased institutional capacity for care and research, public health education for behaviour change, strengthened sexually transmitted disease (STD) management, improved blood transfusion services, care and support services for persons with HIV/AIDS, and a surveillance system to monitor the epidemic. After a decade of fighting on these fronts, Uganda became, in October 1996, the first African nation to report declining trends in HIV infection. Further decline in prevalence has since been noted. The Medical Research Council (UK) and the Uganda Virus Research Institute have demonstrated declining HIV incidence rates in the general population in the Kyamulibwa in Masaka Districts. Repeat knowledge, attitudes, behaviour and practice studies have shown positive changes in the priority prevention indicators. The data suggest that a comprehensive national response supported by strong political commitment may be responsible for the observed decline. Other countries in sub-Saharan Africa can achieve similar results by these means. Since success is possible, anything less is unacceptable.

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OBJECTIVE: To describe sexual behaviour that may partly explain a decline in HIV seroprevalence in pregnant women in urban settings in Uganda, East Africa. SETTINGS: Two major urban districts in Uganda. METHODS: Repeated population-based behavioural surveys in 1989 and 1995, and repeated HIV serological surveys in consecutive pregnant women attending antenatal clinics from 1989 to 1995. RESULTS: During the study period, a 2-year delay in the onset of sexual intercourse among youths aged 15-24 years and a 9% decrease in casual sex in the past year in male youths aged 15-24 years were reported. Men and women reported a 40% and 30% increase in experience of condom use, respectively. In the same study area, over the same period, there was an overall 40% decline in the rates of HIV seroprevalence among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. It can be hypothesized that the observed declining trends in HIV correspond to a change in sexual behaviour and condom use, especially among youths. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of a change over a period of 6 years in male and female sexual behaviour, assessed at the population level, that may partly explain the observed decline in HIV seroprevalence in young pregnant women in urban Uganda. This result should encourage AIDS control programmes to pursue their prevention activities.

PIP: Repeated serologic surveys conducted in consecutive pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in three urban sites--Nsambya, Rubaga, and Jinja--in Uganda in 1989-95 documented substantial declines (27-47%) in HIV prevalence. Multiple population-based behavioral surveys conducted in urban Uganda in 1989 and 1995 suggest this decline in HIV prevalence among pregnant women may be a result of three key changes in sexual practices: a 2-year delay in the onset of sexual intercourse among young people 15-24 years of age, a 9% decrease in the practice of casual sex among males 15-24 years old, and increases in the experience of condom use of 40% among males and 30% among females. Proportions of male and female youth reporting they had never had sexual intercourse increased from 31% and 26%, respectively, in 1989 to 56% and 46%, respectively, in 1995. The prevalence among men in the past year of sex outside relationships that had lasted more than 12 months declined from 22.6% in 1989 to 18.1% in 1995. The proportion of men and women who reported exchanging sex for money dropped by almost 50%. Finally, the proportion of sexually active respondents who reported ever-use of condoms increased from 15.4% to 55.2% among men and from 5.8% to 38.7% among women from 1989 to 1995. In two of the three urban areas, the decline in HIV prevalence was sharpest among pregnant women in the youngest age group (15-24 years), suggesting a true decrease. The finding of substantial changes in the sexual behavior of urban Ugandan youth confirms the efficacy of AIDS prevention and control interventions.

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OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of patients with HIV-related illness admitted to a medical ward. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: Rubaga Hospital, the third largest hospital in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 449 patients admitted to the medical ward between September and November 1992. RESULTS: Of the 449 patients, 390 (86.8%) agreed to provide a blood sample for HIV serology. Of these, 55.6% (95% confidence interval, 50.7-60.5%) were positive for HIV. Eighty-six (22.2%) of all patients [71 (33%) of the seropositives and six (3.5%) of the seronegatives] met the World Health Organization case definition for AIDS in Africa. The HIV-seropositives had a mortality rate of 17.4%, significantly higher (P = 0.00057) than the 5.8% rate observed in the seronegative group. The overall mortality rate was 13.7% and was significantly associated with HIV infection (P = 0.0005). CONCLUSION: HIV infection is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in Uganda. Over 50% of the medical admissions were HIV-positive revealing the serious impact of HIV on the health-care system.

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