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New HIV/AIDS co-infection epidemiology research from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine described
April 21st, 2008
2008 APR 21 -- A report, 'Treating curable sexually transmitted infections to prevent HIV in Africa: still an effective control strategy,' is newly published data in Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. According to a study from London, the United Kingdom, "Evidence regarding the effectiveness of sexually transmitted infection (STI) treatment for HIV prevention in Africa is equivocal, leading some policy makers to question whether it should continue to be promoted for HIV control. We explore whether treating curable STIs remains a cost-effective HIV control strategy in Africa." "The model STDSIM was fitted to the characteristics of 4 populations in East and West Africa. Over the simulated HIV epidemics, the population-attributable fractions (PAFs) of incident HIV attributable to STIs, the impact of syndromic STI management on HIV incidence, and the cost per HIV infection averted were evaluated and compared with an estimate of lifetime HIV treatment costs (US $3500). Throughout the HIV epidemics in all cities, the total PAF for. all STIs remained high, with >or=50% of HIV transmission attributed to STIs. The PAF for herpes simplex virus type 2 increased during the epidemics, whereas the PAF for curable STIs and the relative impact of syndromic management decreased. The models showed that the absolute impact of syndromic management remains high in generalized epidemics, and it remained cost-saving in 3 of the 4 populations in which the cost per HIV infection averted ranged between US $321 and $1665," wrote R.G. White and colleagues, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The researchers concluded: "Curable STI interventions may remain cost-saving in populations with generalized HIV epidemics, particularly in populations with high-risk behaviors or low male circumcision rates." White and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (Treating curable sexually transmitted infections to prevent HIV in Africa: still an effective control strategy? Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2008;47(3):346-53). For more information, contact R.G. White, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dept. of Epidemiology and Population Health, London, UK. Publisher contact information for the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes is: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA. Keywords: United Kingdom, London, HIV/AIDS Co-Infection Epidemiology, AIDS, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Epidemiology, HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Viral Infection, Hygiene, Immunology, Sexually Transmitted Disease, Virology. This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, AIDS Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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