HIV/AIDS Survival Rate among Hill Tribe Population in Northern Thailand
Keywords:
HIV/AIDS; risk factors; survival time; hazard rate; hill tribeAbstract
Objective: To find out the current situation of HIV/AIDS, sexual behaviors, and survival times in the six main hill tribe
populations in Thailand: Akha, Lahu, Karen, Hmong, Yao and Lisu, who live in northern Thailand where HIV/AIDS is of the
highest prevalence in the country.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was conducted with a systematic data extraction of medical records of hill tribe
HIV/AIDS cases from 37 hospitals in 4 provinces, northern Thailand. Statistical data were analyzed by Survival analysis and
Cox’s-Regression.
Results: 608 cases were recorded of which 581 were suitable for analysis. 81.0% of subjects were alive at the time of study,
39.6% were aged 26-35 years at the time of diagnosis. 64.9% were female, 36.2% were Lahu, 29.8% were Karen, 57.7% were
Buddhist, and 24.6% were Christian. 57.5% were infected by sexual intercourse, 6.2% were intravenous drug users (IDU). Those
receiving antiretroviral drug (ARV) had a 50% survival time of 12.4 years whereas in the non-ARV group a 50% survival
time was only 5.9 years (p ≤0.01). The 50% survival time of non-OI infection was 10.6 years whereas it was only 6.3 years
for the OI group (p ≤0.01). Cox’s-regression model found that being female (HR 0.55; 95%CI 0.02-0.82), receiving ARV (HR
0.43; 95%CI 0.27-0.69), and having non-OI (HR 0.53; 95%CI 0.01-0.89) were factors favoring good survival.
Conclusion: Improving the access to health care services for hill tribe HIV/AIDS are necessary as well as encouraging them
to use condoms.
References
from: URL: http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/HIVData/Global Report/2008/2008_Global_report.asp
2. Department of Epidemiology, MOPH Thailand. Annual HIV/AIDS Epidemiology surveillance report 2008. Bangkok: Ministry of Public Health;
2008 (In Thai).183 p.
3. Dobbins J G, Nopkesorn T, Sangkharomya S, et al. Herpes in the time of AIDS: A comparison of the epidemiology of HIV-1 and HSV-2 in
young men in northern Thailand. Sex Transmit Dis.1999 Feb;26(2):67-74.
4. Sirisopana N, Mason CJ, Markowitz LE, et al. Correlates of HIV-1 seropositivity among young men in Thailand. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
Hum Retrovirol. 1996 Apr 15;11(5):492-8.
5. Kitsiripornchai S, Ungchusak K, Jenkins R, et al. Sexual behaviors of young men in Thailand: regional differences and evidence of behavior
change. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1998 Jul 1;18(3):282-8.
6. Chiang Rai Province Public Health Office. Annual HIV/AIDS Epidemiology surveillance report 2008. Chiang Rai: Division of Disease Control, Chiang
Rai Province Public Health Office; 2008 (In Thai).13 p.
7. Department of Social Welfare. Middle population and the 20 provinces of hill tribe communities in Thailand 2009. Bangkok: Department of
Social Welfare, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare; 2009 (In Thai). 117 p.
8. Annitra J, Sharmistha B. Spatial and sex differences in AIDS mortality in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Health &Place. 2010 Jun 9;16:1084-93.
9. Apidechkul T, Jiamton S, Jareinpituk S, and Kaewkungwal J. Sexual behavior and HIV infection among pregnant hill tribe women in northern
Thailand. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2007 Nov;38(6):1061-9.
10. Rabeneck LM, Hartigan PW, Huang I, Souchek J, Wray PN. Predicting outcomes in HIV-infected veterans: II. Survival after AIDS. J Clin Epidemiol.
1997 Jul 28;50(11):1241-8.
11. Mcdavid K, Ling Q, Song R, H. Irene Hall. Country-level socioeconomic status and survival after HIV diagnosis, United State. Ann Epidemiol.
2008 Sep 25;18(12):919-27.
12. H. Irene Hall, Mcdavid K, Ling Q, Sloggett A. Determinants of progression to AIDS or DEATH after HIV diagnosis, United States, 1996 to
2001. Ann Epidemiol. 2006 Jan 23;16(11):824-33.
13. Pichainarong N, Chaveepojkamjorn W, Luksamijarulkul P, Sujirarat D, Apidechkul T. Hepatitis B carrier among married hill tribe women in
northern Thailand. Southeast Asia J Trop Med Public Health. 2003 Mar;34(1):144-9.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Users are free to share, copy, and redistribute all articles published in the Siriraj Medical Journal (SMJ) in any medium or format as long as you follow the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the material, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the publisher endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
