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Abstract
A study on premarital HIV screening in Johor, Malaysia, 2002-2004
Khebir B.V.1, Adam M.A.2, Daud A.R.2, Shahrom C.M.D.2
Objectives: To describe the performance of premarital HIV screening programme in the state of Johor, Malaysia.
Methods: A descriptive study for a period of 3 years from the year 2002 to 2004 was carried out in the whole state of Johor. All the muslim marriage applications to the Majlis Agama Islam Johor underwent HIV screening process using SD Bioline HIV-1/2 3.0 Rapid Test Kits manufactured by Standard Diagnostics Inc., Korea, in all government clinics in Johor. The sensitivity of the rapid test is 100% while the specificity is at 99.8%. The screening took place after group counselling had been carried out. Individuals with reactive results underwent a confirmatory test after pre-test counselling. Blood samples were taken and sent to accredited laboratories for confirmation using ELISA and PA test. The results were given to the subjects during the next visit (after 1-2 weeks) by the relevant medical officers and the subjects given appropriate post test counselling. Newly detected HIV cases were placed under the management of HIV patient programme in the relevant clinics.
Results: A total of 72,471 who underwent screening (97.2%) were Malays, while the rest were Indians, Chinese and others. Of the 123 HIV cases, 97 (78.9%) were males and 26 (21.1%) were females. In 2004, 24 cases (64.9%) out of 37 advanced to marriage (n= 37) after they underwent counselling and six of them married among themselves and were put on long term follow up. Positivity rate from this programme (0.17%) is higher than antenatal screening (0.05%). Despite the implementation of the premarital HIV screening programme, muslim marriage application in Johor rose 2.8% in 2004 compared with 2002.
Conclusions: This programme had received wide acceptance and partly contributed to public awareness against HIV and provides another option in early detection of the disease.
4th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention
Abstract no.
WEPEC036
Suggested Citation
"KhebirB.V., et al.
A study on premarital HIV screening in Johor, Malaysia, 2002-2004.
Poster exhibition:
4th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention:
Abstract no.
WEPEC036"
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