Bloodborne HIV: Don't Get Stuck!

Unexplained infections in children: A 2007-08 study in Kenya identified 11 HIV-positive children with HIV-negative mothers. The children ranged in age from 8-11 years old, and all 11 had been diagnosed when they were 5-10 years old. Compared to HIV-negative siblings, HIV-positive children had received more infusions and injections to treat malaria, had received more dental care, and were more likely to have been hospitalized. Source: Okinyi M, Brewer DD, Potterat JJ (2009) Horizontally acquired HIV infection in Kenyan and Swazi children. Int J STD AIDS 20: 852-857. Summary data available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19948900 (accessed 11 January 2012).

Unexplained infections in adults

2008-9: In a national survey, among young adults aged 15-24 years, 1.3% of self-declared virgin women were HIV-positive vs. 4.5% of all young women.  Among young men, 0.5% of self-declared virgins were HIV-positive vs. 1.1% of all young men. Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and ICF Macro. Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008-09. Calverton, Maryland: ICF Macro, 2010.  Available at:  https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR229/FR229.pdf (accessed 29 May 2021).

1997-98: In a survey among young adults aged 15-24 years in Kisumu, 10.8% (7/65) of young women who said they were virgins were HIV-positive vs 33.7% (122/362) of sexually active young women. The source reporting these data proposes young women “misreported their sexual activity.” Source: Buve A, Lagarde E, Carael M, et al. Interpreting sexual behavior data: validity issues in the multicentre study on factors determining the differential spread of HIV in four African cities. AIDS 2001; 15 (suppl 4): S117-S126. Abstract available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11686460 (accessed 27 January 2012).