PLACE in Zambia: Identifying Gaps in HIV Prevention in Kapiri Mposhi, Central Province, 2005

Author(s): Ndubani P, Kamwanga J, Tate J, Buckner B

Year: 2006

Abstract:

The Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts method (PLACE) identifies specific venues where HIV/AIDS prevention programs can reach those most at risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV. Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia's Central Province was selected for a PLACE study because data from antenatal clinics and official projections suggest that the level of HIV prevalence in Kapiri Mposhi is high. HIV prevalence among women attending antenatal care was 20.2% in 2004. Official projections estimate an overall prevalence of 17.4% in Kapiri Mposhi district for 2006. The town of Kapiri Mposhi, located along the Great North Road, is a major transportation hub. The TAZARA rail line that links Zambia and Tanzania terminates in Kapiri Mposhi. At a junction just north of the town, the Lusaka-Ndola road to the Copperbelt merges with the Great North Road leading to neighbouring Tanzania. A large number of people from all parts of Zambia and from many other countries pass through the town of Kapiri Mposhi over the course of a year, and many spend at least one night in or near the town. Because of its central location, the town is susceptible to a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.