Abstract:
Background: Fishing communities have been identified as among the vulnerable groups who are at high risk of acquiring HIV infections. This vulnerability is mainly due to their mobility, time away from home and access to cash income. Several strategies have been used to mitigate the spread of HIV in high-risk group however there is a paucity of information on magnitude of HIV infection and associated factors among the fishing community in Geita. Objective: This study aimed to determine the magnitude of HIV infection and associated factors among the fishing communities in Geita Region. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at fish landing site along the shores of Lake Victoria basin in Geita region from January to February 2019. The study participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were screened for HIV using HIV1/2 SD bioline and HIV Unigold rapid test kits. HIV positive sample was tested using LAg Avidity test and viral load test to distinguish between recent and long-term HIV infection. Bivariate and Multivariate Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with HIV infection. Results: A total of 1048 consented individuals were included in the study. Majority of the participants were aged between 25-39 years and their age mean was 34 years (SD±11.5). The overall prevalence of HIV was 9.06%. Of the 95 who tested positive for HIV, 7 (7.4%) had HIV recent infection. The factors that were independently associated with HIV infection were being never attended schools, (AOR=3.41, 95%CI=1.15-10.10), separated/divorced (AOR=1.69,95%CI=1.01-2.81), transactional sex (AOR=2.24, 95%CI=1.30-3.86), history of sexual transmitted infections (STI) in the last six months (AOR=1.67, 95%CI=1.05-2.66), and never tested HIV in the last 12 months (AOR=2.09, 95%CI=1.32-3.29) compared to the reference group. More than half (55.2%) of the participants had low access to education information materials and had to access the condom (54.4%) from shop or pharmacy. Conclusion and Recommendations: The HIV infection in the fishing community was high along the shore of Lake Victoria in Geita Region. Public health intervention such periodic screening of STI, treatment and provision of health education on the use of HIV services like condom use, HIV testing should be done in Geita Region.
