[Sexual risk factors and HIV seroprevalence among the deaf and hearing-impaired in Yaoundé].

This quantitative cross-sectional study examines the sexual behaviour of people with hearing impairments in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, and measures the prevalence of HIV infection in this group. The study is intended to assess their sexual vulnerability and help to reduce the existing data gaps about HIV serology among people with disabilities in general and the deaf in particular. A snowball sampling procedure was adopted as an appropriate approach to this hard-to-reach population. In all, 118 deaf participants were interviewed in sign language for the behavioural component, and 101 participants provided blood samples for HIV serology testing. Descriptive analyses of behavioural data were performed with Epi info software, and health personnel used rapid and confirmation test reagents to diagnose HIV infection. The results make clear that the hearing-impaired are highly involved in risky sexual practices, as assessed by indicators including: age at first sexual intercourse, multiple sex partners, condom use, and knowledge of STIs and AIDS. Furthermore, HIV prevalence rate for the hearing-impaired in Yaounde was 4%, close to the level in the general population (4.7%). These results point to the need for in-depth behavioral research and serological studies in this domain, to improve our understanding of the determinants of risky sexual behaviours among the hearing-impaired and to help design operational prevention approaches for this target population.