China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative and South Asia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess risk factors in HIV heterosexual transmission by a study on HIV infection incidence among stable partners (S.P.) of HIV infected subjects (Index Cases - I.C.). METHODS: From 1985 to 1989, we have examined 216 heterosexuals which have had a stable relationship (at least for 9 months) with HIV AB +ve subjects. All subjects underwent HIV serology (ELISA & WB), and 96 of them answered a questionnaire about sexual habits. From this sample, a cohort of 69 HIV Ab negative partners took part in a follow-up program. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Initially, 10/70 (14.3%) male and 22/146 (15%) female partners were found to be HIV Ab +ve. The difference between male-to-female and female-to-male rate is not statistically significant. Frequency in sexual contacts, vaginal sex during menses for males, and anal sex for females, all seem to be the most important factors in HIV contagion. The epidemiological analysis of seroconverted partners (10/69 = 14.5%; annual rate = 5.8%) outlines that all contagions occurred in 21 partners (47.6%; annual rate = 22.6%) among couples which did not use condoms regularly (less than 50% of sexual contacts). In detail, all stable partners becoming HIV Ab +ve are females who have not changed sexual behavior and continue, at times, to have anal sex, and almost always internal ejaculation. There seems to be no relation between HIV seroconversion and p24 antigenaemia. The adoption of "safe sex" shows to be linked to marital condition, to social and cultural status of both I.C. and S.P., and to the occasional use of condoms before knowing the HIV status of I.C.