One hundred and fifteen people detected
to be seropositive for HIV infection in
Ghana in 1986 are described. Ninety per cent
were female, most were of the sexually
active age group. Ninety-six per cent had
recently resided abroad, particularly in Cote
d'lvoire. and many had worked abroad as
prostitutes. They had most probably acquired
infection there. Seventy-six per cent were ill
with AIDS or AIDS related complex.
Random sampling of groups of the general
population revealed no seropositives,
although 4 prostitutes working in Accra/
Tema were infected. Of attendants at an
Accra venereal disease clinic 3 were infected
all of whom had been to Cote d’Ivoire
recently.
Our results show that the AIDS virus has
now spread into Ghana and urgent measures
are described to try to prevent the spread of
AIDS throughout the community.