HIV seroprevalence in sexually transmitted disease clinics in Los Angeles County.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

HIV seroprevalence in sexually transmitted disease clinics in Los Angeles County.

Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9;5:90 (abstract no. M.A.P.74). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA5/00023189
Ford WL; Rose T; Kerndt P; Onorato I; Waterman S; Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles,; California, USA

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To estimate the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among patients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in Los Angeles County (LAC). METHODS: Between July and December 1988, consecutive attendees at 4 public STD clinics were screened for HIV Ab. Repeat ELISA positives were confirmed by the immunofluorescent antibody and Western Blot. HIV Ab results were linked without personal identifiers to self-reported demographic and risk factor information. RESULTS: Of the 2,578 STD patients tested, 2.9% (76) were confirmed HIV Ab positive; the rates were 3.8% (68/1,796) in men, and 1.0% (8/782) in women. The infection rate among Hispanics was 4.5% (32/708); whites 2.5% (5/200); and, blacks 2.4% (39/1608). Hispanics comprised 27.3% of the STD patients tested, but accounted for 42.1% of the seropositives. In contrast, whites and blacks made up 7.8% and 62.6% of the study population, and 6.6% and 51.3% of the seropositives, respectively. Among the 133 persons reporting gay/bisexual behavior, 30.8% (41) were seropositive; 58.5% (24) Hispanic; 34.1% (14) black; and 7.3% (3) white. Seropositivity among heterosexuals was 1.4% (34/2,376); 1.6% (27/1,637) for men, and 0.9% (7/739) for women. The highest rate of infection for heterosexuals was among black men 1.9% (19/1025), and the lowest rate among Hispanic women 0.6% (1/173). Approximately 3.0% of those tested reported recent IV drug use, and 8.0% of those (6/75) were seropositive. CONCLUSION: HIV infection among patients at STD clinics in LAC is substantial and warrants routine testing and counseling. The large proportion of minorities attending public STD clinics affords an opportunity to provide AIDS education and risk reduction counseling to high risk members of minority populations.

Keywords: Adult Ambulatory Care Facilities Caucasoid Race Female Hispanic Americans Human HIV Seropositivity *HIV Seroprevalence Los Angeles/*EPIDEMIOLOGY Male Minority Groups Negroid Race Patient Education Sexually Transmitted Diseases/EPIDEMIOLOGY ABSTRACT
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