Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Mali. Study of 3496 sera

Between March 1987 and January 1989 laboratory personnel tested 3496 sera from 7 major regions of Mali and Bamako district to learn the significance of HIV infection in Mali. The sera were from prostitutes prisoners hospital patients who had some AIDS symptoms pregnant women volunteers from systematic case findings surveys and blood donors. 294 (8.41%) tested HIV positive. 44.75% of all HIV-positive people had HIV-2 infection some of whom also had HIV-1 infection (24.06% of HIV positives). 31.19% had just HIV-2 infection. Bamako had the highest prevalence. Prostitutes had a significantly higher prevalence rate than the other groups (25.26% vs. 0.72-13.97%; p = 0.000001). The mean age of HIV seropositive people was 30.18 years. 31-40 year olds had a significantly higher prevalence than other age groups (11.24% vs. 4.18- 7.37; p = 0.004). Women were more likely to be HIV seropositive than men (11.79% vs. 5.72%; p = 0.000001). Widows and divorced people were more likely to have HIV infection than people in monogamous relationships (35.29% and 3.33% respectively vs. 6.44%; p = 0.000001). Traders (12.64%) were significantly more likely to be HIV positive than other professions (p = 0.000001). People who have traveled to central or other western African countries since 1980 had a higher HIV seroprevalence than those who did not (p = 0.000001). All HIV seropositives were heterosexuals. HIV seropositivity rose with the number of sexual partners (p = 0.000001). Tattooing had a positive association with HIV infection (p = .00009). These findings show the importance of adopting preventive measures to avoid the trend towards a tragic situation.