Showing papers by "Susan D. Hillis published in 2007"

HIV seroprevalence in street youth, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Abstract: Reliable data on HIV infection among Russian street youth are unavailable. The purpose of this study was to assess HIV seroprevalence among street youth in St Petersburg and to describe social sexual and behavioral characteristics associated with HIV infection. A cross-sectional assessment conducted during January-May 2006 included city-wide mapping of 41 street youth locations random selection of 22 sites rapid HIV testing for all consenting 15-19-year-old male and female street youth at these sites and an interviewer-administered survey. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were calculated using logistic regression accounting for intracluster homogeneity. Of 313 participants 117 (37.4% 95% confidence interval 26.1-50.2%) were HIV infected. Subgroups with the highest seroprevalences included double orphans (64.3%) those with no place to live (68.1%) those previously diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI; 70.5%) those currently sharing needles (86.4%) and those currently using inhalants (60.5%) or injection drugs (78.6%) including Stadol (82.3%) or heroin (78.1%). Characteristics independently associated with HIV infection included injecting drugs (AOR 23.0) sharing needles (AOR 13.3) being a double or single orphan (AOR 3.3 and 1.8) having no place to live (AOR 2.4) and being diagnosed with a STI (AOR 2.1). Most HIV-infected street youth were sexually active (96.6%) had multiple partners (65.0%) and used condoms inconsistently (80.3%). Street youth aged 15-19 years in St Petersburg Russia have an extraordinarily high HIV seroprevalence. In street youth who are injection drug users HIV seroprevalence is the highest ever reported for eastern Europe and is among the highest in the world. (authors)

Rapid HIV testing, pregnancy, antiretroviral prophylaxis and infant abandonment in St Petersburg

Abstract: In St Petersburg, Russia, a rapid HIV-testing programme was implemented in April 2004 for high-risk women giving birth. Among 670 women without prenatal care who received rapid HIV testing, 6.4% (43) had positive results. Among HIV-positive mothers, receipt of intrapartum antiretroviral prophylaxis increased significantly compared to pre-programme levels (76 versus 41%). Additionally, infant abandonment increased significantly (50% versus 26%), and was 10 times greater in women with unintended versus intended pregnancies (73% versus 7%).

Barriers to prenatal care and poor pregnancy outcomes among women with syphilis in the Russian Federation.

Abstract: We studied predictors of no prenatal care (PNC) and influence of no PNC on pregnancy outcome in a multisite study of 1071 women with syphilis in Russia. We assessed PNC utilization, HIV testing, syphilis treatment, and pregnancy outcome. We found that 37% of women with syphilis received no PNC, and 1% was HIV infected. Lacking official residency status was independently related to no PNC (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 8.1; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 5.3–12.3). Among women with inadequately treated current syphilis, those without PNC were more likely to have a stillborn infant than those with PNC (25% vs. 3%, odds ratio [OR] 9.5, 95% CI 4.0–23.5). Women with adequately treated current syphilis and no PNC were more likely to deliver a low birth weight (OR 3.8; 95% CI 1.8–8.1) or preterm infant (OR 3.9; 95%CI 1.8–8.7). Women with previous or current syphilis and no PNC were significantly more likely to abandon their infants.