Document 1846
 DOCN  M94A1846
 TI    Risky behaviour of truck and bus drivers in Cameroon.
 DT    9412
 AU    Akamba JJ; Sam-Abbenyi A; Zekeng L; Mbouni GE; Schmidt-Ehry B; Ministry
       of Health, Yaounde, Cameroon.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):438 (abstract no. PD0361). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370729
 AB    OBJECTIVES: To assess and understand truck & bus drivers' behaviour
       while travelling, to measure awareness of STDs among drivers, and to
       determine the prevalence of some STDs. METHODS: In September 1993, data
       were collected through a questionnaire administered to 168 truck & bus
       drivers randomly selected in Douala & Ekok; 10ml of blood sample was
       collected, with consent of 157 interviewees, by venipuncture. Double
       ELISA (direct and indirect), RAI & RPR were performed for HIV 1&2, HBsAg
       and syphilis respectively. RESULTS: Involved in the study were
       Cameroonians, Chadians, Central Africans, and a Nigerian. The mean
       duration of a trip (to & fro) was 14.2 (+/- 12.6), range 1-60 days. 65%
       of 160 drivers reported having had sexual intercourse during their last
       journey. 40% mentioned sexual contacts with casual girls or prostitutes.
       Furthermore, 25% of drivers reported having sex at every stop where they
       spend a night. Drivers who cited having sex had an average of 3 partners
       during the trip (range 1-10). 54.4% reported not using or casually using
       condoms. Overall these men were well informed about STDs (gonorrhea
       89.3%, syphilis 65.5%, AIDS 47.6%). 14.6% of 157 drivers were HIV+,
       11.5% were HBsAg+ and 10.8% RPR+. CONCLUSION: Although the overall
       awareness of STDs among drivers was judged good, they were still engaged
       in high risk behaviour. There is dire need to elaborate a specially
       targeted health education programme.
 DE    Cameroon/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Condoms  Female  Human  Male  *Occupations
       Prevalence  Random Allocation  Risk Factors  *Sex Behavior  Sexually
       Transmitted Diseases/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*TRANSMISSION  *Transportation
       MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).