Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Syphilis Prevalence and Risk Factors among Migrant Workers in Konongo, Ghana

Andrew A.  Adjei; James  Brandful; Mark  Lurie; Margaret  Lartey; Francis  Krampa; Awewura  Kwara; Theophilus K.  Adiku; Yao  Tettey; Richard K.  Gyasi; Aaron L.  Lawson; Timothy  Flanigan

doi:10.4236/aid.2014.43020

AID Vol.4 No.3 , September 2014

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Syphilis Prevalence and Risk Factors among Migrant Workers in Konongo, Ghana

Andrew A. Adjei, James Brandful, Mark Lurie, Margaret Lartey, Francis Krampa, Awewura Kwara, Theophilus K. Adiku, Yao Tettey, Richard K. Gyasi, Aaron L. Lawson, Timothy Flanigan

Abstract: Migrant workers, particularly gold mining workers, have been identified as a group at risk for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI). A cross-sectional study was undertaken on the correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis infections in a sample of migrants (Ghanaian citizens [156] and non-Ghanaian citizens [8]) working in a gold mining centres in Konongo, Ghana. The study was conducted between the months of January 2013 to December 2013. Of a total of 600 eligible migrant workers, only 164 (27.33%; males 114, females 50) of the eligible migrants took part in the study. Subjects voluntarily completed a risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimen for testing for the presence of antibodies to HIV and Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis. These data were analyzed using both univariate and multivariate techniques. The median age of the participants was 29.0 years (range 18 - 62 years). Of the 164 migrant workers tested, HIV and syphilis seroprevalence were 6.7% and 3.7% respectively. On multivariate analysis, the independent determinants for HIV infection were being female [odds ratio (OR) 2.94; 95% confidence interval (95% CI 0.86 - 10.0); unmarried (OR 10.13; 95% CI 1.2 - 81.09); drug use (OR 3.76; 95% CI 0.38 - 36.3); and blood transfusion (OR 2.45; 95% CI 0.27 - 22.37). Similarly, on multivariate analysis, the independent determinants for syphilis infection were having concurrent sexual partners (OR 2.16; 95% CI 0.38 - 12.12); and blood transfusion (OR 5.07; 95% CI 0.51 - 50.37). Consistent with similar studies worldwide, our results suggest high prevalence of HIV and syphilis infections among migrant workers who work in gold mining centres in Ghana.

Keywords: HIV Seropositivity, Syphilis Seropositivity, Migrant Workers, Gold Mining Centres, Risk Factors

Cite this paper: Adjei, A. , Brandful, J. , Lurie, M. , Lartey, M. , Krampa, F. , Kwara, A. , Adiku, T. , Tettey, Y. , Gyasi, R. , Lawson, A. and Flanigan, T. (2014) Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Syphilis Prevalence and Risk Factors among Migrant Workers in Konongo, Ghana. Advances in Infectious Diseases, 4, 132-141. doi: 10.4236/aid.2014.43020.

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