Table 1.
Demographic, sexual and HIV–related characteristics
| Characteristics | Overall | Group 1 (perinatally HIV–infected females) | Group 2 (behaviourally HIV–infected females) | Group 3 (HIV–negative females) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | 60 | 40 | 10 | 10 | |
| Median age (IQR), yrs | 19 (17–21) | 18 (17–19) | 24 (20–24) | 20.5 (19–23) | <0.001 |
| Median age (IQR) at sexual debut, yrs | 16 (15–17) | 16 (15–17) | 17 (16–18) | 15.5 (15–18) | 0.34 |
| Median (IQR) time since sexual debut, yrs | 3 (1–4) | 2 (1–3) | 5 (4–7) | 4 (3–6) | <0.001 |
| Lifetime sexual partners n (%) | 0.06 | ||||
| 1 | 14 (23.3) | 13 (32.5) | 0 (0) | 1 (10.0) | |
| 2–3 | 23 (38.3) | 16 (40.0) | 4 (40.0) | 3 (30.0) | |
| ≥4 | 19 (31.7) | 9 (22.5) | 4 (40.0) | 6 (60.0) | |
| Did not answer/missing | 4 (6.7) | 2 (5.0) | 2 (20.0) | 0 (0) | |
| Number of partners in the last | 0.50 | ||||
| 3 months n (%) | |||||
| No partner | 6 (10.0) | 3 (7.5) | 2 (20.0) | 1 (10.0) | |
| 1 | 47 (78.3) | 33 (82.5) | 6 (60.0) | 8 (80.0) | |
| 2–3 | 4 (6.7) | 2 (5.0) | 1 (10.0) | 1 (10.0) | |
| ≥4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Did not answer/missing | 3 (5.0) | 2 (5.0) | 1 (10.0) | 0 | |
| Frequency of sexual intercourse per | 0.20 | ||||
| month in previous 3 months | |||||
| 0–5 | 30 (50.0) | 19 (47.5) | 8 (80.0) | 3 (30.0) | |
| 5–10 | 17 (28.3) | 12 (30.0) | 1 (10.0) | 4 (40.0) | |
| ≥10 | 8 (13.3) | 5 (12.5) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (30.0) | |
| Did not answer/missing | 5 (8.3) | 4 (10.0) | 1 (10.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Types of contraception n (%) | |||||
| Condoms | 33 (55.0) | 27 (67.5) | 4 (40.0) | 2 (20.0) | 0.02 |
| Hormonal contraception | 3 (5.0) | 2 (5.0) | 0 | 1 (10.0) | 0.70 |
| Morning–after pill | 3 (5.0) | 0 | 2 (20.0) | 1 (10.0) | 0.03 |
| Coitus interruptus | 13 (21.7) | 6 (15.0) | 3 (30.0) | 4 (40.0) | 0.15 |
| Contraceptive implant | 2 (3.3) | 1 (2.5) | 1 (10.0) | 0 | 0.56 |
| Abstinence | 1 (1.7) | 0 | 0 | 1 (10.0) | 0.33 |
| Sterilisation | 6 (10.0) | 4 (10.0) | 1 (10.0) | 1 (10.0) | 1.0 |
| Injection contraception | 9 (15.0) | 7 (17.5) | 1 (10.0) | 1 (10.0) | 1.0 |
| No contraception | 9 (15.0) | 4 (10.0) | 2 (20.0) | 3 (30.0) | 0.23 |
| Did not answer/missing | 2 (3.3) | 1 (2.5) | 1 (10.0) | 0 | 0.56 |
| Condom use n (%) | |||||
| Always | 15 (25.0) | 13 (32.5) | 2 (20.0) | 0 | 0.27 |
| Almost always | 9 (15.0) | 6 (15.0) | 2 (20.0) | 1 (10.0) | |
| Sometimes | 27 (45.0) | 15 (37.5) | 4 (40.0) | 8 (80.0) | |
| Never | 7 (11.7) | 5 (12.5) | 1 (10.0) | 0 | |
| Did not answer/missing | 2 (3.3) | 1 (2.5) | 1 (2.5) | 0 | |
| Ever had an STD n (%) | 5 (8.3) | 2 (5.0) | 2 (20.0) | 1 (10.0) | 0.20 |
| Did not answer/missing | 2 (3.3) | 1 (2.5) | 1 (10.0) | 0 | |
| Sex for money/goods n (%) | 6 (10.0) | 2 (5.0) | 0 | 4 (40.0) | 0.02 |
| Did not answer/missing | 2 (3.3) | 1 (2.5) | 1 (10.0) | 0 | |
| Smoking cigarettes n (%) | 49 (81.7) | 37 (92.5)7 | (70.0) | 5 (50.0) | 0.003 |
| Did not answer/missing | 2 (3.3) | 1 (2.5) | 1 (10.0) | 0 | |
| Ever used alcohol n (%) | 33 (55.0) | 25 (62.5) | 3 (30.0) | 5 (50.0) | 0.25 |
| Did not answer/missing | 2 (3.3) | 1 (2.5) | 1 (10.0) | 0 | |
| Ever used illicit drugs n (%) | 6 (10.0) | 3 (7.5) | 1 (10.0) | 2 (20.0) | 0.42 |
| Did not answer/missing | 2 (3.3) | 1 (2.5) | 1 (10.0) | 0 | |
| HIV–related parameters | |||||
| Number | 50 | 40 | 10 | ||
| On HAART at month 0 n (%) | 43/50 (86.0) | 36/40 (90.0) | 7/10 (70.0) | n/a | 0.13 |
| Median (IQR) duration on HAART before | 6.9 | 7.4 | 0.6 | n/a | <0.001 |
| month 0, yrs (n=43) | (2.2–8.3) | (3.3–8.5) | (0.5–2.2) | ||
| Median (IQR) CD4 on month 0 | 542 | 559 | 343 | n/a | 0.07 |
| cells/μL (n=50) | (263–771) | (359–832) | (232–565) | ||
| Median (IQR) HIV RNA on month | 1.60 | 1.60 | 1.74 | n/a | 0.02 |
| 0, log10 copies/mL (n=50) | (1.60–1.74) | (1.60–1.60) | (1.60–5.45) | ||
| Missing n (%) | 0 | 0 | 3 (30.0) | ||
| HIV RNA <50 copies/mL n (%) | 35 (70) | 32 (80) | 3 (30) | n/a | 0.001 |
| Missing n (%) | 0 | 0 | 3 (30.0) | ||
| Disclosed HIV to last partner before | 0.17 | ||||
| engaging in sex n (%) | |||||
| ‘He knows’ (yes) | 26 (52.0) | 23 (57.5) | 3 (30.0) | n/a | |
| ‘He doesn't know’ (no) | 17 (34.0) | 13 (32.5) | 4 (40.0) | ||
| ‘Not sure’ | 5 (10.0) | 3 (7.5) | 2 (20.0) | ||
| Did not answer/missing | 2 (4.0) | 1 (2.5) | 1 (10.0) |
Abbreviations: STD: sexually transmitted disease; HAART: highly active antiretroviral therapy