AEGiS-NHIVPC: The Twin Challenges of Prevention and Treatment in the Pacific Island State of Chuuk, FSM

National HIV Prevention Conference

Atlanta, Georgia, USA — July 27 - 30, 2003

The Twin Challenges of Prevention and Treatment in the Pacific Island State of Chuuk, FSM

Natl HIV Prev Conf 2003 July 27-30:abstract no. M1-F0102
Sos ES
Chuuk State, Weno Chuuk, Micronesia (Federated States of)

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:: The Chuuk state has a population of 58,459 distributed among 40 scattered islands ranging from 16 to 180 miles from the central island of Weno. Chuuk has the most cases of HIV in the Fedreated States of Micronesia, 14 confirmed cases from 1999-2002. Most of the HIV/AIDS cases are from the furthest islands known as the Hall Islands, where opportunistic infections are impossible to treat and the disease is difficult to manage. Prevention education also is a problem due to the geographical area, which includes problems of rough seas, travel by speed boat which takes 2-6 hours or cargo ship which takes 24 hours, the consumption of large amount of fuel, safety of staff (possibility of boat sinking), and the logistics of transferring blood specimens to the Center. There was a study done in 2001 on these furthest islands which showed a high incidence of unprotected sexual activity among MSMs and their female partners. There are four indigenous cases now among the 14 total cases. They all died young, between the ages of 27 to 37 years of age. From the exposure date to date they died took only 3 to 5 years, which may be partly due to their nutritional status that often is a factor of their socioeconomic situation.

METHODS: The survey was done by CDC in 2001 on the Hall Islands.

RESULTS: Results showed high incidence of MSMs engaging in unprotected sex and also having unprotected sex with female partners. Most of the cases were linked to each other and the first two indigenous cases were among them.

CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to prevent HIV infection and treat those already infected is greatly impeded by the physical obstacles of an isolated island chain with a low standard-of-living, and limited access to prevention education and medical care.

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M1-F0102