HIV This Week

Le Coeur S, Khlat M, Halembokaka G. Increased HIV infection rate among violent deaths: a mortuary study in the Republic of Congo. AIDS. 2008;22(13):1675-6.  

There is no evidence to suggest an association between violent deaths and HIV in Africa. Le Cœur and colleagues report the results of a study performed in Pointe-Noire, Congo, where post-mortem HIV serologies were performed among all deaths referred to the morgue. The HIV prevalence among violent deaths was 37%, significantly higher than 10% among accidental deaths, with an adjusted odds ratio of 6 (P = 0.03). Prevention of domestic violence and fight against stigmatization should be parts of HIV programmes in Africa.

Editors’ note: To obtain a death certificate for burial in Pointe-Noire, the bodies of all deceased persons must be taken to the city morgue, making for a relatively complete denominator. Of the 1309 deaths registered during the study period, 14 were homicides and 5 suicides. More than a third of these people were HIV-positive at the time of death. Of the 4 HIV-positive homicides, 3 were women who had been slaughtered by a family member. These small but striking numbers highlight the importance of fighting stigma and preventing domestic violence .