Serostatus surveillance testing of HIV-I infection among Zimbabwean psychiatric inpatients, in Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate seroprevalence rates of HIV infection among Zimbabwean psychiatric inpatients.

DESIGN

An identity-unlinked procedure, for ELISA and Western blot HIV testing of consecutively admitted psychiatric patients, was used during the four month period of the study. The seropositive groups were further categorized along the WHO case definition of HIV/AIDS infection criteria. The blood results were coded and linked to various demographic variables and risk factors. All data were measured at either nominal or ordinal levels. Comparisons between variables were made by chi-square test for proportion and independence.

SETTING

Harare Central Hospital Psychiatric Unit, Harare, Zimbabwe.

SUBJECTS

A total of 143 inpatients (60.8 pc males and 39.2 pc females), mean(SD) age 32.5 (10.5) years and the mean(SD) duration of psychiatric illness of 4.21 (1.7) years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection among psychiatric patients.

RESULTS

The seroprevalence rate of HIV infection was 23.8pc and was significantly related to high education attainment (p < 0.03) and unemployment status of the patients (p < 0.03).

CONCLUSION

There is an urgent need to develop and apply preventive interventions for HIV infected psychiatric patients.