VDM Ji, G: AIDS in Areas with Many Former Plasma Donors in North

One thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven (1997) villagers in areas with many former plasma donors (FPDs) were interviewed and tested for HIV. HIV prevalence was 15.2% among FPDs and 4.9% among non- FPDs. Among non-FPDs, spouse being HIV-positive and having multiple sexual partners were associated with HIV infection. Within marriage, the condom use rate was 5.9%. The proportion having more than one sexual partner was 3.1%. Most of the boy/girlfriends were from the local rural areas (87.5%), and 51.9% of the sex workers visited by male participants were in urban areas and 2/3 of the sex workers visited by the HIV positive participants were in urban areas. The prevalence of HIV infection is high. The HIV/AIDS epidemic has spread to non-donors primarily through sexual transmission. Low condom use rate with spouse and other sexual partners promotes HIV sexual transmission. The sexual mixing pattern and the low condom use rate indicate that HIV sexual transmission is unavoidable. Promotion of condoms with all partners and limiting the number of sex partners, are urgently needed to stop further spread of HIV.