Marseille 2007
| Abstract #538 - HIV Infection among Seafarers A global study | ||||
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Session: 21.2: Vulnerable populations (Parallel) on Monday @ 16.30-18.30 in 5 Chaired by William Fisher, Tomas Campbell Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Hemantha Wickramatillake - USAID/AED, Sri Lanka |
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| Additional Authors: Dr Hemantha Wickramatillake, | ||||
| Aim: HIV infection and AIDS among seafarers is not a new phenomenon. In 1959, an English seaman and in late 1960s a Norwegian seaman and his family died of HIV infection. Later, heterosexually acquired HIV infection became known among seafarers from several maritime countries in Europe. Only few studies have been conducted in other parts of the world although many seafarers come from developing countries. Some studies show an increased risk of contracting HIV infection while other studies showed different results. These varying findings prompted to conduct a global study, collecting data from all available sources, and to obtain a clearer picture of the HIV status among seafarers. | ||||
| Method / Issue: The study funded by the International Transport Federation and, recently updated, examined data and statistics from published and unpublished reports and articles and it also looked at proxy data, such as prevalence rates at ports of call and from many countries where seafarers originate. | ||||
| Results / Comments: In some countries such as Denmark, Pakistan and Belgium where national prevalence rates were available, the prevalence rate among seafarers were higher than that of the general population. In small sampled studies carried out in India, the incidence was less than that of the general population. Of the countries from where the majority of seafarers are recruited, Thailand had the highest incidence rate of 56.88 per million of the population in 1995. In the Philippines, 1/3 of HIV infections diagnosed, since 1984, were seafarers and domestic workers returning after overseas employment. In Kiribati, although seafarers indulged in risky behavior, prevalence rate (2003) was 0.3%. Sex workers in the port city of Nairobi showed a prevalence rate of 80% (1994), while in Bombay the prevalence rate was 51% in 1993. Although Thailands HIV figures have declined since mid nineties, HIV prevalence is unacceptably high in several groups including injecting drug users (IDUs), men who have sex with men (MSM), mobile populations, and among seafarers. | ||||
| Discussion: Findings of this study point more in favor of risk of infection towards seafarers. This is seen, even, in countries where general population rates are either steady or declining (e.g. Thailand). To have a more relevant approach to the problem, it will be ideal to carry out large sampled multi-centre research studies, with same data collection methods, to examine and evaluate the situation. Further, it is also important to carry out studies to examine the causes and sexual behavior patterns; so that a more focused approach can be made towards, prevention and transmission of, HIV infection from seafarers. | ||||
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