International Journal of Health Geographics | 2010
Authors:
DOI: 10.1186/1476-072X-9-24
Journal: International Journal of Health Geographics
Year: 2010
Publisher:
Document Type: Article
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Cited by: 22
Background: The well-established connection between HIV risk behavior and place of residence points to the importance of geographic clustering in the potential transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI).Methods: To investigate the geospatial distribution of prevalent sexually transmitted infections and sexual behaviors in a sample of 18-24 year-old sexually active men in urban and rural areas of Kisumu, Kenya, we mapped the residences of 649 men and conducted spatial cluster analysis. Spatial distribution of the study participants was assessed in terms of the demographic, behavioral, and sexual dysfunction variables, as well as laboratory diagnosed STIs. To test for the presence and location of clusters we used Kulldorff's spatial scan statistic as implemented in the Satscan program.Results: The results of this study suggest that sexual risk behaviors and STIs are evenly distributed in our sample throughout the Kisumu district. No behavioral or STI clusters were detected, except for condom use. Neither urban nor rural residence significantly impacted risk behavior or STI prevalence.Conclusion: We found no association between place of residence and sexual risk behaviors in our sample. While our results can not be generalized to other populations, the study shows that geospatial analysis can be an important tool for investigating study sample characteristics; for evaluating HIV/STI risk factors; and for development and implementation of targeted HIV and STI control programs in specifically defined populations and in areas where the underlying population dynamic is poorly understood. © 2010 Westercamp et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Age Distribution; Cluster Analysis; Cohort Studies; Communicable Disease Control; Demography; Developing Countries; Educational Status; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV Infections; Humans; Kenya; Male; Monte Carlo Method; Prevalence; Risk Assessment; Risk-Taking; Rural Population; Sexual Behavior; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Socioeconomic Factors; Urban Population; Young Adult; Kenya; Kisumu; Nyanza; cluster analysis; disease control; disease prevalence; health risk; human immunodeficiency virus; population dynamics; risk factor; sexual behavior; sexually transmitted disease; spatial analysis; spatial distribution; young population; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adolescent; adult; age distribution; article; attitude to health; cluster analysis; cohort analysis; demography; developing country; disease transmission; educational status; high risk behavior; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection control; Kenya; male; Monte Carlo method; organization and management; prevalence; risk assessment; rural population; sexual behavior; sexually transmitted disease; socioeconomics; urban population