Seroprevalence of HIV among the people of Lake Chad Basin of Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

The seroprevalence of HIV in the general population among the vulnerable priority group and high risk populations in the Conventional Lake Chad Basin (CLCB) has not been documented. This study therefore is aimed at determining the prevalence of HIV among the general population of the people living on the islands and hinterlands of the Lake Chad Basin of Borno State. A total of one thousand, seven hundred and ninety people were counseled and tested for presence of HIV antibodies. This include the general population from both the island and the hinterland, the prison inmates, uniformed men, long journey drivers both on the island and hinterland, commercial sex workers and traders from the island. Blood sample was collected by finger-pricking and tested for the presence of HIV antibody using Determine HIV-1/2 Test Cards, Unigold HIV test kit and Stat Pak HIV-1/2 test kits. Each sample was screened with Determine test kits. Those samples that were reactive were confirmed using Unigold test kit. The discordant results were resolved using Stat Pak test kit. Every tenth sample from the positive individuals was retested for quality assurance using the blotted dry blood sample collected from the field. The overall prevalence in the study area was estimated to be 24.1%. The target group with the highest prevalence was commercial sex workers (CSW) (40.1%), followed by general populations (32.3%). The transporters had prevalence of 24.6% and prevalence among uniformed service men was 20.2%. The prevalence among traders was 18.2% and island populations 16.9%, while the prison inmates had 14.5%. HIV-2 was not detected in this study. However only two people were tested among the displaced people and none was positive. The study shows a highly generalized epidemic with CSW serving as a potential reservoir of infection in the midst of a significantly mobile population without intervention strategies.

Keywords: seroprevalence, CSW, HIV, Borno