Sexual behaviour as the limiting and linking factor in HIV-infected people in rural Zimbabwe

Although the incidence of AIDS continues to increase in Zimbabwe, no systematic investigation has been done of the contextual (behavioural and situational) variables important to the tailoring of AIDS educational prevention programmes for those at risk. As part of a World Health Organization-recommended cotrimoxazole prophylaxis programme to 1146 HIV-positive individuals in rural Zimbabwe, data were collected on risk behaviours and characteristics of all participants. Outcomes included condom use, relationship, marital status, duration of the programme and reason for HIV testing. Forty-five participants (4.1%) reported always using condoms, 379 (34.5%) reported occasional use and 673 (61.4%) reported no condom use. Statistical analysis showed significant positive correlations between condom use and participant age, duration of the programme, the reason for HIV testing, knowledge about the partners' HIV status and the partner's awareness of the patient's HIV-positive status. Results reflect the need to target subpopulations, for specific HIV/AIDS education initiatives in rural Africa.