HIV-1 INFECTION AMONG EMPLOYEES OF THE ETHIOPIAN FREIGHT TRANSPORT CORPORATION

Abstract

SUMMARY: In the study on HIV-l infection conducted in July 1988, 995 long distance truck drivers, their assistants, and lorry technicians employed by the Ethiopian Freight Transport Corporation (EFTC) were enrolled. 89.4% of trips made by the drivers were along the Addis Ababa -Assab road. The HIV prevalence rates were 13% among 468 drivers, 12.9% among 209 drivers assistants, and 4.1% among 318 technicians. The prevalence rate among those who served for < 5 yrs was 4.7% (n = 297) .Those who served longer in the Corporation (82.9% of whom are drivers) had a mean prevalence rate of 12.5% (n=698). Drivers had more sexual partners and more frequently experienced sexually transmitted diseases than the technicians. The study indicated that the long distance truck drivers in Ethiopia practiced frequent contacts with female sex workers. They were at a significantly higher risk to acquire HIV infection than the technicians employed at the same corporation.