Title: Estimates of the impact of HIV-1 infection on fertility in a rural Ugandan population cohort.

POPLINE Document Number: 127797

Author(s):

Carpenter LM
Nakiyingi JS
Ruberantwari A
Malamba S
Kamali A
Whitworth JA

Source citation:

In: The socio-demographic impact of AIDS in Africa. Based on the conference organized by the Committee on AIDS of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) and the University of Natal, Durban, South Africa, 3-6 February 1997. Papers. Liege, Belgium, International Union for the Scientific Study of Population [IUSSP], 1997. :18 p.

Abstract:

The impact of HIV-1 infection upon fertility was assessed in a rural population of approximately 10,000 subsistence farmers in 15 neighboring villages of Masaka, enrolled in 1989/90 and followed annually. The study involved 3684 women aged 15-49 who experienced 2268 births over the follow-up period, a general fertility rate of 198.6/1000 and a total fertility rate of 6.2 births. Approximately half of the women were under age 25 years, more than 53% were married, 4% were widowed, and 12% were divorced. Definitive serostatus was determined for 78%. 9% of the women were infected with HIV, a higher proportion than the 8% overall prevalence in the adult population. 24% had ever been exposed to syphilis. Highest fertility by age was among women aged 20-24 at more than 300/1000 and among teenagers at 167/1000. Fertility rates declined over the 6-year follow-up from 232/1000 in year 1 to 187/1000 in year 6. HIV prevalence was highest among women aged 20-24 at 21% and among the divorced at more than 20%. HIV infection was slightly more prevalent among women with past exposure to syphilis, a difference of only marginal statistical significance (P = 0.05). The general fertility rate among HIV-seropositive women was 192/1000 women, lower than the rate of 212/1000 among HIV-negative women. The lower fertility among HIV-positive women was seen in every age group except among women aged 15-19. HIV-infected women in this population have 20% lower fertility than uninfected women and the population impact of HIV is approximately 2%. The reduced fertility among HIV-infected women could be due to co-infection with other sexually transmitted disease.

Keywords:

Uganda
Research Report
Rural Population
HIV Infections
AIDS
Syphilis
Prevalence
Fertility Determinants
Women
Developing Countries
Africa, Eastern
Africa, Sub Saharan
Africa
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Reproductive Tract Infections
Infections
Measurement
Research Methodology
Fertility
Population Dynamics