The AIDS epidemic and infant and child mortality in six districts of Uganda

Several studies in sub-Saharan Africa have associated infant and child mortality with the AIDS epidemic in the region. The paper uses retrospective survey data of six districts in the east, south and west of Uganda to study infant and child mortality, which increased in the 1980s probably because of the AIDS epidemic and started declining in the early 1990s, a period when the epidemic was reported to be subsiding. Deeper analysis of data indicates that children whose parents are polygamous, educated, formally employed and in business are at a higher risk of death from AIDS and related illness. Although AIDS as a direct cause of death is the fourth leading killer of children, other serious diseases such as diarrhoea, respiratory infection and measles are associated with AIDS

Underlying factors in female sexual partner instability in Kampala

Divorced or separated persons are more likely to be infected with HIV than those in marital unions: sexual partner instability appears to have significant implications in STD/HIV transmission. While this appears empirically yes, most current STD/HIV preventive strategies do not seem to address partner instability as an important underlying factor in STD/HIV transmission and control. This paper describes reasons why young females may be motivated to change sexual partners or have more than one sexual partner. The problems appear to be dissatisfaction due to infidelity of the male partner, fear of getting STD from current partner, drunken or unattractive male partner, economic problems, lack of leisure time together, male partner’s children with other women, and male partner’s relatives’ influence. STD/AIDS Control Programs should note that dissatisfaction with partner may be an underlying factor in HIV transmission

AIDS mortality in Uganda: circumstances, factors and impact of death

HIV/AIDS is a serious problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease affects the most sexually active adults of the population, who belong to the most productive age groups, and some of whom are breadwinners. The paper uses data from a baseline survey of six districts of Uganda to study the circumstances, factors and impact of death due to AIDS. While high proportions of patients of AIDS or related diseases use health facilities, most deaths occur at home. Deaths due to AIDS or related diseases are associated with sex, age, marital status, type of marriage, education, occupation and ethnicity. The worst effect of AIDS deaths on the household is lack of finance

Fertility levels and trends in the face of the AIDS epidemic in Uganda

The paper uses data on ever-married women interviewed in 1992 and 1995 surveys in six districts of Uganda. Total fertility rates declined during the inter-survey period from 7.3 to 6.0. Women in households that experienced AIDS-related deaths had lower fertility levels than women in non-AIDS-affected households in both 1992 and 1995. This pattern was yes of women at older ages, in polygamous unions, the widowed and separated, and among the highly educated and the uneducated