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  <TITLE>Moges et al., Infection with HIV and Intestinal Parasites among Street Dwellers</TITLE>

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<P>Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 59 (6), 400-403, 2006</P>


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<P>Epidemiological Report</P>


<P><B><FONT SIZE="+2">Infection with HIV and Intestinal Parasites among Street Dwellers in Gondar City, 

Northwest Ethiopia</FONT></B></P>


<P><B>Feleke Moges<FONT SIZE="-1"><sup>1</sup></Font>, Yenew Kebede<FONT SIZE="-1"><sup>1</sup></Font>,

 Afework Kassu<FONT SIZE="-1"><sup>1,4</sup></Font>*, Getu Degu<FONT SIZE="-1"><sup>2</sup></Font>, 

Moges Tiruneh<FONT SIZE="-1"><sup>1</sup></Font> and Molla Gedefaw<FONT SIZE="-1"><sup>3</sup></Font></B></P>


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<FONT SIZE="-1"><sup>1</sup></Font>Department of Microbiology and Parasitology,

<FONT SIZE="-1"><sup>2</sup></Font>Department of Community Health, and

<FONT SIZE="-1"><sup>3</sup></Font>University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences,

University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; and

<FONT SIZE="-1"><sup>4</sup></Font>Department of Preventive Environment and Nutrition,

Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan

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<P>(Received October 17, 2005. Accepted August 9, 2006)</P>


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<P>*Corresponding author: Mailing address: Department of Preventive Environment and Nutrition,

Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.

Tel: +81-88-633-9598，Fax: +81-88-633-7410, E-mail: afeworkkassu@yahoo.com</P>


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<P><B>SUMMARY</B>: In Ethiopia human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major health 

and socioeconomic problem. Sex workers, youth, and mobile populations all show increasing prevalence 

of HIV. However, there is currently no information about the seroprevalence of HIV and the knowledge 

of HIV among street dwellers in this country. To fill this gap, 404 street dwellers residing in Gondar, 

northwest Ethiopia, were included in this cross-sectional study.  Socio-demographic data, factors that 

prompted the subjects to become street dwellers, and their knowledge about HIV were all assessed 

using a structured questionnaire. Stool samples for diagnosis of intestinal parasites and 

venous blood for HIV antibody testing were collected and processed following standard procedures. 

Poverty-associated movement to urban areas in search of work was reported as a major factor that 

forced them to live in the streets, followed by divorce, family death, and addiction and peer pressure. 

One or more intestinal parasites were found in 67.6% of the street dwellers. Multiple parasitic 

infections were detected in 27.7%. The prevalence of HIV in the street dwellers was 6.9%. 

Fifty-nine (16.6%) participants responded that HIV can be transmitted by eating food together.  

Seventy-three (18%) believed an infected needle cannot transmit HIV, while 51 (12.6%) said HIV 

can be transmitted by hand shaking. One hundred ninety-two (47.5%) responded that antiretroviral 

therapy will not prolong the life of HIV-infected individuals. In summary, the prevalence of HIV 

and intestinal parasitic infection was quite high among street dwellers in Gondar. Therefore, 

strategies to control HIV and other infectious diseases should include this group, and regular 

mass deworming may help to reduce the burden of infection.</B></P>


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