AEGiS-14IAC: HIV/AIDS Epidemiology in Lithuania.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

HIV/AIDS Epidemiology in Lithuania.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. C10671)

Likatavicius G, Caplinskas S, Rakickiene J
Lithuanian AIDS center, Vilnius, Lithuania

INTRODUCTION: HIV infection spreading temps in Eastern European region continues to be one of fastest in the world. In spite of many common factors ( e.g. increase of drug abuse, sexually transmitted infections, economical difficulties), which facilitate the HIV spread, HIV incidence and prevalence in the countries of the region differ.

METHODS: Evaluation of the data from HIV/AIDS national registry.

RESULTS: With the new 72 HIV cases reported in 2001(1 diagram), HIV prevalence stays one of the lowest in Europe (9.2/100 000 inh.). The main suspected transmission mode is intravenous drug use. From the 1994 that group has gradually increased and from 1997 has made more than 70% of all registered cases reaching 78% in 2001 while sexual transmission totals to 31%. A considerable increase in HIV cases in women has been reported every year, making 23% in 2000, and 32% in 2001. AIDS cases have been also on increase, totalling to 45 by the end of 2001. Almost half of AIDS cases are diagnosed in the advanced stage at the moment of HIV positive test result.

CONCLUSION: Lithuania is surrounded by countries where HIV epidemics explosion was noticed during a couple of years. Nevertheless, HIV incidence in Lithuania has been stable during the last three years. It might be attributed to successful preventive programmes implemented by the Lithuanian AIDS centre in collaboration with other institutions.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Prevalence, Incidence, HIV Seropositivity, Disease Outbreaks, Lithuania, Europe, Human, Female, epidemiology

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