TITLE:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Syphilis Prevalence and Risk Factors among Migrant Workers in Konongo, Ghana
AUTHORS:
Andrew A. Adjei, James Brandful, Mark Lurie, Margaret Lartey, Francis Krampa, Awewura Kwara, Theophilus K. Adiku, Yao Tettey, Richard K. Gyasi, Aaron L. Lawson, Timothy Flanigan
KEYWORDS:
HIV Seropositivity, Syphilis Seropositivity, Migrant Workers, Gold Mining Centres, Risk Factors
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.4 No.3,
September
5,
2014
ABSTRACT: Migrant workers, particularly
gold mining workers, have been identified as a group at risk for HIV and sexually
transmitted infections (STI). A cross-sectional study was undertaken on the correlates
of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis infections in a sample of migrants
(Ghanaian citizens [156] and non-Ghanaian citizens [8]) working in a gold mining
centres in Konongo, Ghana. The study was conducted between the months of January
2013 to December 2013. Of a total of 600 eligible migrant workers, only 164 (27.33%;
males 114, females 50) of the eligible migrants took part in the study. Subjects
voluntarily completed a risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimen for
testing for the presence of antibodies to HIV and Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis. These data were
analyzed using both univariate and multivariate techniques. The median age of the
participants was 29.0 years (range 18 - 62 years). Of the 164 migrant workers tested,
HIV and syphilis seroprevalence were 6.7% and 3.7% respectively. On multivariate
analysis, the independent determinants for HIV infection were being female [odds
ratio (OR) 2.94; 95% confidence interval (95% CI 0.86 - 10.0); unmarried (OR 10.13;
95% CI 1.2 - 81.09); drug use (OR 3.76; 95% CI 0.38 - 36.3); and blood transfusion
(OR 2.45; 95% CI 0.27 - 22.37). Similarly, on multivariate analysis, the independent
determinants for syphilis infection were having concurrent sexual partners (OR 2.16;
95% CI 0.38 - 12.12); and blood transfusion (OR 5.07; 95% CI 0.51 - 50.37). Consistent
with similar studies worldwide, our results suggest high prevalence of HIV and syphilis
infections among migrant workers who work in gold mining centres in Ghana.