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Original Research
The prevalence of HIV in the sudden, unexplained and unexpected death population at the Pretoria Medico-Legal Laboratory
Submitted: 21 September 2015 | Published: 31 May 2016
About the author(s)
Neil K. Morris, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria, South AfricaLorraine du Toit-Prinsloo, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Lynne Webber, Department Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Gert Saayman, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Abstract
Purpose: To determine the prevalence of HIV in the sudden, unexplained and unexpected (SUU) death population admitted to the Pretoria Medico-Legal Laboratory.
Methods: This study was conducted at the Pretoria Medico-Legal Laboratory. Blood samples were obtained from decedents who died suddenly and/or unexpectedly, during autopsy, by a forensic pathologist. Sample collection continued until 100 valid samples were analysed for HIV antibodies. The data collected included demographic details and case-related information.
Results and Conclusion: SUU deaths accounted for 14% of all cases admitted to the Pretoria Medico-Legal Laboratory. The HIV prevalence in the SUU deaths was 43%, which is 17% higher than the general mortuary population in Pretoria ( p = 0.0045). The majority of these deaths were due to respiratory disease processes, with 12 cases having HIV/TB co-infection.
Keywords: Sudden; Unexplained and unexpected death; Post mortem; HIV; Mortuary; Pretoria; South Africa
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