Journal Articles

Independent Association of Hygiene, Socioeconomic Status, and Circumcision with Reduced Risk of HIV Infection Among Kenyan Men

Source:
Meier A et al. 2006. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 43 (1):117–118.

Summary:
Our study aimed to identify male and female risk factors (including genital hygiene practices) for bacterial vaginosis; in the course, we, unexpectedly, found male genital hygiene was associated with the man's risk of HIV infection. Because male HIV infection and male hygiene were found to be correlated with one another, we examined the relationship of five (5) hygiene variables with HIV infection in the men in a principal components analysis, controlling for socioeconomic status and other potential confounders. Assessing genital hygiene beliefs and practices in Kenyan men, we found male genital hygiene practices showed bathing genitalia immediately after sex was common, and this practice was associated with access to water, demonstrating the potential acceptability of such an intervention even in resource-poor settings.

Summary:
Patients with AIDS are particularly susceptible to gut colonization or invasion by common enteroviruses, resulting in acute diarrhea, chronic diarrhea, and wasting. Bacterial overgrowth may develop in the small intestine of AIDS victims, causing chronic diarrhea and malabsorption, and since gut pathogens are significantly more prevalent in developing countries, they are likely to play a greater role in AIDS than in developed countries. In addition, management of AIDS diarrhea is complicated by the difficulties in eliminating the agent and associated symptoms, and by the critical condition of the patient; thus, efforts to improve personal hygiene and environmental sanitation should be given a high priority in less developed countries.