AEGiS-11IAC: Trends and patterns in HIV/AIDS epidemic in Guatemala City during 1994-95.

11th International AIDS Conference


Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

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Trends and patterns in HIV/AIDS epidemic in Guatemala City during 1994-95.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:443 (abstract no. Pub.B.1036)
Arathoon E, Samayoa B, Cornman H, Hirchsmann A; Asociacion Guatemalteca para la Prevencion y Control del SIDA, (AGPCS), Guatemala. Fax: 502-2-516531.

OBJECTIVE: Observe changes in trends and patterns of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Guatemala City from 1994-1995.

METHODS: Changes in the trends of the HIV/AIDS epidemic were studied during 1994-1995 utilizing the EPI-info data bank of the AGPCS AIDS clinic based in the Public Hospital San Juan de Dios in Guatemala City. Data was analyzed regarding changes in demographics, opportunistic infections (OI) and the spread of AIDS in Guatemala.

RESULTS: During 1994-1995, 309 new cases of HIV-positive people were documented in the clinic including 279 which consulted the clinic. This number represented more than the total accumulated cases seen in the clinics from 1989-1993 (246 new cases). The distribution by gender of the population of 1994-1995 2:1 (male:female) vastly differs from gender distribution in the initial phases of the epidemic in 1984 11:1 (male/female). Currently the relationship of male/female for adolescents is 1:1. The mean age of the current population (94/95) is 31 years old with SD+-9 years. Approximately 47% of the patients who attended the clinic had already displayed symptoms related with AIDS in comparison with 67% who attended in 1989-1992. The increase of STD infection in HIV population was 1% (56% during 1994-1995 years. 57% in 1989-1993). Fifty one percent of the clients never used a condom in comparison with the 60% observed in 1989-1992. The heterosexual group (72%) increased by 18% (54% during 1989-93) while men who have sex with men decreased from 34% to 22%. The number of IV drug users decreased by 4% (9% during 1989-93).One interesting fact was clients with pulmonary TB/HIV infection almost duplicated during 1994-1995 in comparison with statistics from 1989-93 (13% vs 29%). Conclusions:1. The new HIV-positive cases indicate the mode of transmission is sexual and established primarily in the heterosexual population.2.A marked increase in the incidence of pulmonary TB was observed in HIV-positive cases.3.AIDS cases are detected late in the HIV infection.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Disease Outbreaks, HIV Infections, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Condoms, Cities, Incidence, Heterosexuality, Tuberculosis, Pulmonary, Adolescent, Guatemala, Human, Male, Adolescence, Female, trends, ICA11

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PubB1036

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