Abstract
In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 1 in 2 HIV-1-infected persons living in a couple have a serodiscordant partner. Recent data suggest a large proportion of new HIV-1 infections in mature epidemics occur within discordant couples, making discordancy a major contributor to the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. What accounts for high rates of HIV-1 discordance and why some individuals remain uninfected despite repeated sexual exposure to HIV-1 is unknown. Studying HIV-1-discordant couples may contribute to understanding correlates of HIV-1 immunity and acute infection. Additionally, HIV-1-discordant couples are an important population for prevention efforts. Consequently, HIV-1-discordant couples are increasingly viewed as a valuable source of participants for HIV vaccine and prevention trials. This review summarizes and critiques existing data on HIV-1-discordant couples in developing countries, including an analysis of transmission rates within discordant couples, description of biological and behavioral characteristics important in planning HIV-1 vaccine and prevention trials, and challenges faced when carrying out such studies.
Keywords: HIV, discordant, couples, Africa, heterosexual transmission
Current HIV Research
Title: HIV-1-Discordant Couples in Sub-Saharan Africa: Explanations and Implications for High Rates of Discordancy
Volume: 5 Issue: 4
Author(s): Brandon L. Guthrie, Guy de Bruyn and Carey Farquhar
Affiliation:
Keywords: HIV, discordant, couples, Africa, heterosexual transmission
Abstract: In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 1 in 2 HIV-1-infected persons living in a couple have a serodiscordant partner. Recent data suggest a large proportion of new HIV-1 infections in mature epidemics occur within discordant couples, making discordancy a major contributor to the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. What accounts for high rates of HIV-1 discordance and why some individuals remain uninfected despite repeated sexual exposure to HIV-1 is unknown. Studying HIV-1-discordant couples may contribute to understanding correlates of HIV-1 immunity and acute infection. Additionally, HIV-1-discordant couples are an important population for prevention efforts. Consequently, HIV-1-discordant couples are increasingly viewed as a valuable source of participants for HIV vaccine and prevention trials. This review summarizes and critiques existing data on HIV-1-discordant couples in developing countries, including an analysis of transmission rates within discordant couples, description of biological and behavioral characteristics important in planning HIV-1 vaccine and prevention trials, and challenges faced when carrying out such studies.
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Cite this article as:
Brandon L. Guthrie , Guy de Bruyn and Carey Farquhar , HIV-1-Discordant Couples in Sub-Saharan Africa: Explanations and Implications for High Rates of Discordancy, Current HIV Research 2007; 5 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016207781023992
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016207781023992 |
Print ISSN 1570-162X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4251 |
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