The New Vision (Uganda) - August 7, 2001
Caroline Lamwaka

A study by Lacor hospital's AIDS project on mothers who attended ante-natal clinic between 1993 and 1999 shows that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS within Gulu Municipality declined from 31% in 1993 to 1.9% in 1999.

However, in 2000, after a voluntary testing, the combined average from the municipality and the rural areas rose from 10.8% in 1999 to more than 13% in 2000.

Voluntary HIV testing carried out at Lacor's outpatients' department in 1999 indicates that there are more females than males affected.

Lacor is also one of the sites for the prevention of transmission of HIV from mother to child. They have anti-retro-viral drugs, which they give to HIV positive pregnant mothers. This started in August 2000. The beneficiaries are mothers who have gone through voluntary HIV counseling and testing and have been found positive. So far 20 mothers have been treated under the Prevention of Mother to Child (HIV) Transmission project between August 2000 to June 2001.

Data at Lacor hospital shows that out of 2,518 mothers who attended ante-natal within the same period, 2,354 attended counselling, but only 1,155 agreed to be tested for HIV. About 112 tested positive, but only 94 registered for drugs. 44 received the drugs and only 20 gave birth in the hospital.

"In this programme, we see a lack of sensitisation. That is why we want to sensitise the community about this programme. We need to sensitise men. The husbands are obstacles to this programme," observes Ronald Okwey, the Assistant Director of the AIDS project, Lacor.

Okwey said: "We usually believe that when we do these studies on pregnant mothers, they represent the population. The study of the year 2000, indicates that the prevalence is going up, which is very bad for us. The municipality still has a high percentage."

Gulu is the second district leading in HIV/AIDS prevalence after Kampala. The major reason for the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and STDS is attributed to war and displacements in the camps. Poverty makes women even more vulnerable.

"We have the war and its effects. People are living in the camps and congestion in the urban areas," he says.

"The lives in the camps are not conducive. Young girls sleep far away from their parents and can turn promiscuous. Even some parents misbehave in the camps. Some young children have sex for money," says Okwey.

Rape and defilement, abduction and forced marriages of young girls by rebel commanders, have also exacerbated the spread of HIV/AIDS. The culture of wife inheritance also enhances the spread of the disease.

Okwey, however, said a recent study between June 1999 to October 2000 on the impact of health education and HIV counselling in four schools showed that among students, almost 100% have awareness of HIV/STDs. They know about it, though knowledge is not necessarily translated into behavoural change. There are about seven HIV/AIDS counselling units in Gulu district.

The study however recorded change in behaviour. The HIV prevalence was markedly reduced from around 2.4% on average to 0.1% at the end of 2000. "People are living positively. We see this from people coming to register to attend the HIV/AIDS clinic," observes Ronald Okwey.

Lacor hospital assisted by ISIS (Italian National Health Institute), together with other NGOs and Gulu hospital, have been involved in sensitisation programmes.

The rural areas recorded 23.6% in 1993 compared to 8.8% in 1999. The tests were carried out at random. 1994 had 25.7% for the municipality and 19.2% for the rural areas. In 1995, it was 21.6% for the municipality and 9.6% for the rural areas, while in 1996, it was 17.1% for the municipality and 12.6% for the rural areas.

In 1997, it was 21.9% for the municipality and 13.3% for the rural areas. In 1998, it was 16.6% for the municipality and 9.7% for the rural areas, whereas in 1999, the figures went to 16.9% in the municipality and 8.8% in the rural areas.

Whereas, among the population below 15 years, the males were the majority infected, with 24.4% against the females' 21.4%, the study showed that there was more prevalence of HIV in females than males within the age bracket of 15 to 39 years. In the age group between 15 and 19, 14% of the females were infected compared to 3% males. Between 20-24, 28.4% of the females were infected compared to 11.6% males. Between 25-29, 4.2% of the females were infected compared to 28% males.

Within the age bracket 30 to 34, 49.7% of the females were affected in contrast with 44.2% males, while within the 35-39 age group, 46.5% of the females had HIV compared to 42.4% of the males.

It was within the age bracket of 40 to 44 that the prevalence showed more among males than females with 59.1% males compared to 55.4% females. Within the 45 to 49 age group, 55.6% of the females were infected compared to 53.8% males, while at the age of 50 years and beyond, 53.2% of the females were affected, in contrast to 33.3% males.
010807
NV010802

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2001. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .