Evidence of a substantial decline in prevalence of HIV-1 infection among pregnant women: data from 1995 to 2003 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence trends of HIV-1 infection among pregnant women seen between 1995 and 2003 at public antenatal clinics (ANC) in the city of Dar es Salaam. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: Cross-sectional studies among pregnant women at selected antenatal clinics who were offered HIV testing as part of research and service programmes to prevent vertical transmission of HIV infection and improve pregnancy outcomes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Consenting women gave blood for HIV antibody testing using a sequential ELISA protocol. Sociodemographic information was collected using structured interviews. RESULTS: In total, 62% of women attending the antenatal clinics gave informed consent for HIV testing and 51,076 had final confirmed results available for this analysis. Women below 20 years of age had the lowest HIV seroprevalence. The HIV-1 prevalence declined from 14.2% in 1995 to 10.6% in 2003. CONCLUSION: There is a definite substantial decline in prevalence of HIV-1 infection among pregnant women in Dar es Salaam following ongoing interventions, which have been carried out in Tanzania. There is a need to further strengthen these interventions.