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PREVALENCE OF HIV AND SYPHILIS IN PREGNANT WOMEN IN LEÓN, NICARAGUA

CARLIJN E. L. HOEKSTRA, MARTIENE RIEDIJK, ARMANDO J. MATUTE, EELKO HAK, EDGAR DELGADO, ROSA E. ALONSO, MARIA D. BENAVIDES, ANTON M. VAN LOON, AND ILJA M. HOEPELMAN^*

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV and syphilis and to identify risk factors among pregnant women visiting antenatal clinics in León, Nicaragua. During February to April 2004, blood samples from pregnant women were collected after written consent had been obtained. The samples were tested for antibodies against HIV and Treponema pallidum. A questionnaire was also completed. In total, 1,059 women were included. Antibodies against HIV were not detected in any of the women, whereas antibodies against T. pallidum were detected in 16 (1.5%). Risk factors for syphilis included illiteracy, lower education, and two or more pregnancies. HIV does not seem to be highly prevalent among pregnant women in León (prevalence, 0%; 95% CI, 0.0–0.3). The higher proportion of women infected with syphilis than found in earlier studies suggests that sexually transmitted diseases are circulating in the general population and highlights the increasing importance of HIV prevention.

Received October 20, 2005. Accepted for publication April 7, 2006.

Financial support: This study was supported by the Nederlandse Ve-reniging van AIDS Behandelaren (NVAB)/Dutch Association of physicians in AIDS.

^* Address correspondence to I. M. Hoepelman, Professor in Medicine, Infectious Diseases Specialist, Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre, PO Box 85500, F02.126 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail: I.M.Hoepelman{at}umcutrecht.nl

The first two authors each contributed equally to this manuscript.

Authors’ addresses: C.E.L. Hoekstra, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, H02 102, University Medical Center, Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. M. Riedijk, Eijkman Win-kler Center for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Inflammation, Rm. G04, 614 Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Nether-lands. A. J. Matute, Department of Internal Medicine, HEODRA University Hospital, UNAN, León, Nicaragua. E. Hak, University Medical Center, Utrecht Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. E. Delgado, Department of Internal Medicine, HEODRA University Hospital, UNAN, León, Nicaragua. R. E. Alonso, Microbiology Laboratory, HEODRA University Hospital, UNAN León, Nicara-gua. M. D. Benavides, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, HEODRA University Hospital, UNAN León, Nicaragua. A. M. van Loon, Department of Virology G04.614, University Medical Centre, Utrecht Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. I. M. Hoepelman, Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands.