Hawkes Michael, Sivasivugha Eugenie S, Ngigi Simon K, Masumbuko Claude K, Brophy Jason, Kibendelwa Zacharie T
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Curr HIV Res. 2013 Apr;11(3):246-53. doi: 10.2174/1570162x113119990002.
To explore the relationship between religious affiliation and HIV infection in a war-ravaged community in sub-Saharan Africa.
Mixed quantitative and qualitative methods.
Individuals attending HIV voluntary counseling and testing clinics in Butembo in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) completed a questionnaire and were tested for HIV infection. Risk factors for HIV seropositivity were explored, with attention to religious affiliation as a potential risk factor. Structured interviews of key informants were used to complement quantitative data.
Three hundred and eighty individuals attending six clinics were enrolled. Nearly all participants (97%) self-identified as Christian (44% Catholic; 53% non-Catholic Christian). Twenty-eight patients (7.4%) tested positive for HIV. Age>30 years (adjusted OR 47 [95%CI 2.9-770, p=0.007), married status (adjusted OR 3.7 [95%CI 1.1-13, p=0.037), and Catholic religion (adjusted OR 2.7 [95%CI 1.1-6.8, p=0.030) were independent risk factors for HIV seropositivity in a multivariable logistic regression model. Rates of HIV were higher among Catholic than non-Catholic Christian participants in both single and married participants. The proportion of participants reporting condom use as a primary prevention modality did not differ significantly between religious groups; however, within both Catholic and non-Catholic Christian groups, increasing church attendance was associated with decreased use of condoms. Qualitative data highlighted divergent views toward condom use among Catholic health workers.
In this cross-sectional survey in Eastern DRC, Catholic (relative to non-Catholic Christian) religious affiliation was associated with an increased risk of HIV. Increasing dialogue between biomedical practitioners and religious leaders may strengthen HIV prevention efforts in SSA.
探讨撒哈拉以南非洲一个饱受战争蹂躏的社区中宗教信仰与艾滋病毒感染之间的关系。
定量与定性混合方法。
刚果民主共和国（DRC）东部布滕博的艾滋病毒自愿咨询和检测诊所的个体完成一份问卷并接受艾滋病毒感染检测。探讨艾滋病毒血清阳性的危险因素，关注宗教信仰作为潜在危险因素。对关键信息提供者进行结构化访谈以补充定量数据。
招募了6家诊所的380名个体。几乎所有参与者（97%）自我认定为基督教徒（44%为天主教徒；53%为非天主教基督教徒）。28名患者（7.4%）艾滋病毒检测呈阳性。在多变量逻辑回归模型中，年龄>30岁（调整后的比值比为47[95%置信区间2.9 - 770，p = 0.007]）、婚姻状况（调整后的比值比为3.7[95%置信区间1.1 - 13，p = 0.037]）和天主教信仰（调整后的比值比为2.7[95%置信区间1.1 - 6.8，p = 0.030]）是艾滋病毒血清阳性的独立危险因素。在单身和已婚参与者中，天主教参与者的艾滋病毒感染率均高于非天主教基督教参与者。报告将使用避孕套作为主要预防方式的参与者比例在宗教群体之间没有显著差异；然而，在天主教和非天主教基督教群体中，参加教堂活动增加与避孕套使用减少相关。定性数据突出了天主教卫生工作者对避孕套使用的不同观点。
在刚果民主共和国东部的这项横断面调查中，天主教（相对于非天主教基督教）宗教信仰与艾滋病毒感染风险增加相关。生物医学从业者与宗教领袖之间加强对话可能会加强撒哈拉以南非洲的艾滋病毒预防工作。
