Trends of HIV Seropositivity at Siriraj Hospital: 13 Year’s Observation from 1992-2004
Suda Louisirirotchanakul PhD*, Sontana Siritantikorn PhD*, Uraiwan Kositanont PhD*, Wannee Kantakamalakul PhD*, Ruengpuang Sutthent MD, PhD*, Prasert Auewarakul MD, PhD*, Rutt Chuachoowong MD, PhD*, Chantapong Wasi MD*, Pilaipan Puthavathana PhD*
Affiliation : * Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
Objective : The aim of the present report was to observe the trend of seroprevalence rates of HIV seropositivity
for routine services at Siriraj Hospital for 13 years.
Materials and Methods : The prevalence rate of HIV seropositivity was analyzed in three groups of
Subjects : 1)
patients who attended the hospital with HIV related diseases; 2) pregnant women at first visit to the antenatal
care clinic; 3) emigrating workers who have applied for employment in foreign countries.
Results : Of the 13 year-observation, HIV seroprevalence rates in the groups of patients, pregnant women and
emigrating workers was 10.6% (95%CI 8.9-12.3%), 2.0% (95%CI 1.8-2.2%) and 0.6% (95%CI 0.4-0.8%),
respectively.
Conclusion : The low prevalence of HIV seropositivity in the group of emigrating workers may be due to self
selection, whereas the prevalence in pregnant women, which was rather consistent at about 2.0%, may
represent the infection rate in the general population. The seroprevalence rate measured in the group of
pregnant women demonstrates that Thailand should increase efforts to confine the spread of HIV infection in
the community.
Keywords : Anti- HIV, Thailand, Seroprevalence, Pregnant women, Emigrating workers
