![Sample our Social Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110822/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Social-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
Introduction
According to the 2011–2012 HIV and Malaria Indicator Survey, the prevalence of HIV infection in Tanzania is 5.1%, with limited information on its magnitude among older people, as the community believes that the elderly are not at risk. Consequently, little attention is given to the fight against HIV and AIDS in this group. The present study investigated the magnitude of HIV and AIDS infection among older people in rural and urban areas of the Tanzania mainland.
Subjects and methods
The study was conducted in Mufindi and Babati districts of Iringa and Manyara regions, respectively, through multistage sampling procedures. Dried blood spot cards were used to collect blood samples for HIV testing among consenting participants. HIV testing was done and retested using different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.
Results
A total of 720 individuals, 340 (47.2%) males and 380 (52.8%) females, were randomly selected, of whom 714 (99.2%) consented to HIV testing while six (0.8%) refused to donate blood. The age ranged from 50 to 98 years, with a mean age of 64.2 years. Overall, a total of 56 (7.8%) participants were HIV-positive. Females had a higher prevalence (8.3%) than males (7.4%), with Mufindi district recording the higher rate (11.3%) compared to the 3.7% of Babati district. The prevalence was higher in the rural population (9.4%) compared to 6.4% of their urban counterparts.
Conclusion
Although HIV/AIDS is considered a disease of individuals aged 15–49 years, the overall prevalence among the older people aged 50 years and above for Mufindi and Babati districts was higher than the national prevalence in the general population. These findings point to the need to consider strengthening interventions targeting older populations against HIV/AIDS in these districts while establishing evidence countrywide to inform policy decisions.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge Global Fund Round 8 for financial support. We greatly acknowledge the entire administration of Mufindi and Babati districts for granting permission and agreeing to assist the research team during data collection. Specifically, we would like to recognize the support given by the district executive directors and district medical officers for recognizing the importance of the study and for offering tireless follow-up of the study activities during data collection. We would also like to register our immense gratitude to the following for the enormous support they offered during data collection in the respective districts: Tina Mtui, Zenaice Aloyce, Furaha Godfrey, Stella Mushy, Silvia Sambu, and Karolina Lyimo. Last but not least, we are grateful to Bonita Kilama and Jaffer Sufi for their technical support and advice on the whole-blood sample collection and processing.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.