Prevalence of HIV infection and uptake of HIV/AIDS services among fisherfolk in landing Islands of Lake Victoria, north western Tanzania

Abstract

BackgroundNew HIV infections in Tanzania have been decreasing, however some populations remain at higher risk. Despite of that, evidence on the magnitude of HIV infection and the associated factors and HIV/AIDS services uptake among fisherfolk in Tanzania are inadequately explored. This study therefore aimed at determining prevalence of HIV infection and utilization of HIV/AIDS services among fishfolk in selected Islands of Lake Victoria for evidence-based interventions.MethodsCross-sectional study determining status of HIV infection among fisherfolk (n = 456) and retrospective review of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) registry (n = 1744) were done in Buchosa and Muleba districts. Structured questionnaire and HIV rapid test kits with the standard testing protocol were used as research tools.ResultsA total of 269 (58.9%) male and 187 (41.1%) female fisherfolk were recruited during the community survey. Prevalence of HIV infection was 14% in all surveyed landing sites with a site variation from as low as 7.2% to as high as 23.8%. Participants employed in fishing related employment had higher odds of being HIV infected (5.4 times) than those who practiced fishing and partly farming [OR = 5.40; 95%CI 1.88–15.61; p < 0.001]. Participants employed in fishing related employment had higher odds of being HIV infected (5.4 times) than those practiced fishing and farming [OR = 5.40; 95%CI 1.88–15.61; P < 0.001]. Lack of formal education [aOR = 3.37; 95%CI 1.64–6.92; p < 0.001], being older [aOR = 1.06; 95%CI 1.03–1.09] and using alcohol [aOR = 2.26; 95%CI 1.23–4.15] predicted the likelihood of contracting HIV infection. Approximately three quarters (76%) of respondents had ever tested for HIV infection within past 1 year. Moreover, about half of the study participants had used condom inconsistently and 5 out of 14 (37.5%) of participants who knew their status had never started treatment. Despite the low uptake of most HIV preventive services, majority (88%) of male fisherfolk were circumcised.ConclusionThe magnitude of HIV infection among fisherfolk was up to 3 times higher than that of the general populations in Muleba and Buchosa districts. Higher age, using alcohol and lack of formal education predicted increased likelihood of HIV infection. The uptake of key HIV/AIDS curative and preventive services was generally low.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-018-3784-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Alcohol Use, Intimate Partner Violence, and HIV Sexual Risk Behavior Among Young People in Fishing Communities of Lake Victoria, Uganda

“…This nding resonates with Kapesa et al (2018), who found a similar result -higher odds of being HIV infected among shing communities around Lake Victoria, northwestern Tanzania (three times higher) than among farming communities. Sexual HIV risk was also observed to be associated with lower levels of education, inconsistent use of the condom, and being older (12). Results from eight shing communities in Uganda also indicate higher sexual HIV risk among lower educated people, women, divorced or in multiple sexual relations, and users of alcohol or illicit drugs before sexual encounters (23,25).…”

“…This is higher in shing communities than in agrarian or trading communities in Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS) (24). This nding resonates with Kapesa et al (2018), who found a similar result -higher odds of being HIV infected among shing communities around Lake Victoria, northwestern Tanzania (three times higher) than among farming communities. Sexual HIV risk was also observed to be associated with lower levels of education, inconsistent use of the condom, and being older (12).…”

“…HIV infection was rst described in Uganda in 1985 in a shing community (7). Since then, studies have consistently documented that shing populations are disproportionately burdened by HIV, relative to the general population in the country (8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Speci cally, HIV prevalence in shing communities is estimated to be 5-7 times higher than in the general population (13).…”

Alcohol use, intimate partner violence, and HIV sexual risk behavior among young people in fishing communities of Lake Victoria, Uganda

“…This finding resonates with Kapesa et al (2018), who found a similar result – higher odds of being HIV infected among fishing communities around Lake Victoria, northwestern Tanzania (three times higher) than among farming communities. Sexual HIV risk was also observed to be associated with lower levels of education, inconsistent use of the condom, and being older [ 12 ]. Results from eight fishing communities in Uganda also indicate higher sexual HIV risk among lower educated people, women, divorced or in multiple sexual relations, and users of alcohol or illicit drugs before sexual encounters [ 22 , 23 ].…”

Mother’s Knowledge on HIV, Syphilis, Rubella, and Associated Factors in Northern Tanzania: Implications for MTCT Elimination Strategies

“…However, despite these intervention programs, there is still a high risk of MTCT infections. The national rate of MTCT for HIV is 6-11% [ 29 , 30 ]. More than 160,000 children are infected with HIV in the country.…”