Prevalence of and risk factors for HIV infection in blood donors and various population subgroups in Ethiopia

The aim was to determine the prevalence of HIV infection and risk factors for HIV infection in various population subgroups in Ethiopia. Serum panels from blood donors (n = 2610), from various population subgroups in Ethiopia were tested for anti-HIV-1/2 by ELISA. All ELISA repeatedly reactive samples were subjected for confirmation by immunoblot (IB) and anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-2 specific ELISAs. 155/2610 (5·9%) blood donors were HIV-1 infected. Of pregnant women, 84/797 (10·5%) were HIV-1 infected, and 1/797 (0·1%) was HIV-2 infected. 1/240 (0·4%) individuals from the rural population were HIV-1 infected. 198/480 (41·3%) female attendees, and 106/419 (25·3%) male attendees at sexual transmitted disease (STD) clinics were HIV-1 infected. One (0·2%) male, and 2 (0·4%) female STD patients were infected with both HIV-1 and HIV-2. It was concluded that the prevalence of HIV-1 infection varied from 0·4% among urban residents to 25·3–41·3% among STD attendees. There is a low prevalence of HIV-2 present in Ethiopian subjects. Risky sexual behaviour is significantly associated with HIV-infection in Ethiopia.