Contribution of AIDS to the general mortality in Central Africa: evidence from a morgue-based study in Brazzaville, Congo.

OBJECTIVE

To accurately measure AIDS-related mortality relative to other causes and its impact on life expectancy in Brazzaville, Congo.

DESIGN

Investigation of all deaths during a 1-month period in Brazzaville.

METHODS

From 10 July to 9 August 1996, all bodies handled by Brazzaville's three morgues were examined by a physician. Relatives were interviewed on the circumstances of death, while additional clinical data were gathered from hospital files. Blood samples were systematically drawn from the bodies in two of the three morgues and tested for HIV antibodies.

RESULTS

Amongst the 756 bodies examined at the three morgues, 149 (19.7%) AIDS cases were identified. HIV-1 prevalence was 26.2% (38 out of 145) amongst the subjects in the two morgues where HIV serology was systematically performed. AIDS was the leading cause of death in adults (age > or = 15 years), with 25.1% (122 out of 487) of the adults diagnosed with AIDS. The proportion of adult female AIDS cases was significantly higher than the proportion of male cases (30.2 versus 21.0%; P < 0.05). Moreover, female AIDS cases were significantly younger than male cases (median age, 32 versus 42 years; P < 0.00001). Overall AIDS mortality rate amongst adults was 2.8 per 1000 for men and 3.2 per 1000 for women. The impact of AIDS on life expectancy at birth is 4.3 years for women and 3.3 years for men.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides a direct measure of AIDS contribution to mortality relative to other causes, using a rapid, low cost, reliable and replicable method. Clearly, the impact of AIDS is strongest on female life expectancy.