Demographic and lifestyle determinants of the HIV serostatus of construction workers

Testing for HIV/AIDS is essential for determining HIV serostatus and initiating subsequent treatment for those found to be infected. Construction workers are regarded as a high-risk group in the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa. Factors that influence the serostatus of construction workers are thus important. A self-administered questionnaire survey of 512 construction workers in the Western Cape explored this issue and found that HIV+ workers have poorer education levels and lower AIDS-related knowledge than non-infected workers. However, contrary to claims in the literature, lifestyle factors, while inter-related to some extent, were not found to be significant correlates of serostatus. More active, and more carefully directed, awareness, counselling and testing campaigns are advocated for construction companies as part of their HIV intervention management policies. Imparting appropriate AIDS-related knowledge and lifestyle advice at a much earlier point in school curricula is also recommended.