ABSTRACT
During October, 1987, 593 sera were collected from risk groups in Sudan's only major deepwater port, Port Sudan. The risk groups included prostitutes, lorry drivers and prisoners. A large proportion of the study participants practised high risk behaviour which included sexual promiscuity, medical treatment by injection, scarification and tattooing. Despite high risk behaviour and evidence of a high prevalence of hepatitis B infection, a virus transmitted in a manner similar to HIV, no study participants were positive for HIV infection. This data suggests that the prevalence of HIV infection amongst high risk groups in Port Sudan is very low. These findings confirm a lack of clinical cases of AIDS in hospitalized patients in Port Sudan and the small number of reported cases in other areas of northern Sudan.
PIP: The high prevalence of hepatitis B markers in the Sudan (up to 80% of those surveyed) suggests the potential for a rapid spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) since both viruses are transmitted in similar ways. Although clinical cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have not been reported from Port Sudan, southern Sudan borders on several countries with a high prevalence of HIV infection. Sudan's National AIDS Committee plans a series of surveys to determine the prevalence of HIV infection in high risk groups and the general population in several geographic regions. The 1st such survey was conducted in Port Sudan in 1987 among 593 high-risk individuals (203 prostitutes, 103 lorry drivers, 118 prisoners, and 169 in mixed occupations). The study population included 330 males and 263 females. About half of the participants were married and in the 21-30-year age group. Over 75% had been exposed to hepatitis B and 76% had been treated for malaria, largely through injection. Overall, the incidence of non-sex-related risk factors for HIV infection among Port Sudan subjects was: injection, 48%; scarification, 40%; and tatoos, 38%. 32% reported a prior history of a sexually transmitted disease. 71% of the males had used prostitutes. Surprisingly, no study participants were positive for HIV infection. This finding presumably reflects Port Sudan's geographic isolation from other Central and East African countries with large numbers of HIV-positive individuals. On the other hand, Port Sudan is the site of importation of all goods by sea into the country and many people from other African and Arab countries are associated with the seaport. Thus, once the HIV virus is introduced by infected persons from other areas, the risk factors suggest the potential for rapid transmission.