Trends and Methods in Identification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Seropositivity in Active-Duty U.S. Navy Enlisted Personnel: 1986-1989

Abstract

Time-trends in the occurrence of HIV seropositivity are the basis for projecting the future course of the epidemic. This study presents quarterly rates of HIV infection during 1986 to 1989 in U.S. Navy active-duty enlisted personnel, a large, serially-tested population. During this period, the U.S. Navy administered 1,795,578 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests to 848,632 active-duty Navy enlisted personnel. There were 2,438 seropositive personnel identified, including 778 with a previous negative test. Three types 0f quarterly rates are reported here: the seropositive rate per 1,000 tested the seroconversion rate per 1,000 tested (with a previous negative test); and the seroconversion rate per 1,000 person-years. Rates by all three methods declined between 1986 and 1989. The mean seropositive rate per 1,000 tested showed a steady decline from 2.9 in 1986 to 0.5 in 1989 (p < 0.05). The mean age-adjusted seroconversion rate per 1,000 tested declined from 0.9 3.4 in 1986 to 0.5 in 1989 (p < 0.05). The mean seroconversion rate per 1,000 person-years declined from 0.9 in 1986 to 0.4 in 1989 (p < 0.05). The race ratio (black/white) declined from 3.9 to 2.7 over the same time-period. Mean seroconversion rates among male hospital corpsmen declined from 10.3 in 1986 to 1.5 in 1989 (p < 0. 05). The overall decline in HIV rates in the Navy could not be explained by changes in the population tested according to age, race, sex, occupational risk group, or geographic location of home port during the study period. The decline in rates in the Navy is encouraging. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Time trends.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 24, 1991
Accession Number
ADA249770

Entities

People

  • Edward Doerr Gorham
  • Frank C. Gardland
  • Louis L. Balazs
  • Milan R. Miller
  • Steve O. Cunnion

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
  • Active Duty
  • Age Groups
  • Blood
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Hiv Infections
  • Hospitals
  • Infection
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Personnel
  • Personnel Management
  • Public Health
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  • Viruses

Readers

  • Infectious Disease/Epidemiology
  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Naval Personnel Management