5th International AIDS Conference Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Jun 4-9, 1989

Int Conf AIDS 1989 Jun 4-9; 5:178 (abstract no. A.603)

Mata L, Valadez J; INISA, University of Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of AIDS in homosexual and bisexual men in Costa Rica, with that in the United States, from the year the epidemics were first recognized ("year one").

METHODS: "Year one" was 1981 for the U.S.A. and 1985 for Costa Rica. Cumulative incidence rates (per million) were calculated using the total number of cases among homo/bisexual men only, and the estimated yearly population of males 15 to 64 year, for each country. Rates were compared during eight years of epidemic: 1981-1988 for the United States and 1985-1992 for Costa Rica. Comparison used real numbers for the period 1981-1988, and estimated (power curve) numbers for the period 1989-1992 for Costa Rica.

RESULTS: The cumulative incidence in homo/bisexual men in "year one" was 3.3 per million in the U.S. and 1.3 in Costa Rica. Differences between the two countries disappeared by "year three" of the epidemic. Thereafter, the ratio Costa Rica/U.S. incidence rates was close to 1.0 or actually 1.0.

CONCLUSION: Incidence rates show an epidemic in Costa Rican homo/bisexual men, of similar magnitude to that in the U.S., when comparison is made from the "year one" of the epidemic in each country.

Keywords: AEGIS, Homosexuality, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Disease Outbreaks, Bisexuality, Incidence, Costa Rica, United States, Human, Male, epidemiology, ICA5

1989-06-04
A603

Copyright © 1989 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.