HIV/AIDS in Europe
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This article needs attention from an expert in Medicine. (November 2008) |
In most countries in Western Europe, AIDS cases have fallen to levels not seen since the original outbreak; many attribute this trend to aggressive educational campaigns, screening of blood transfusions and increased use of condoms. Also, the death rate from AIDS in Western Europe has fallen sharply, as new AIDS therapies have proven to be an effective means of suppressing HIV.
In this area, the routes of transmission of HIV are diverse, including paid sex, sex between men, intravenous drugs, mother to child transmission and heterosexual sex. However, many new infections in this region occur through contact with HIV-infected individuals from other regions. The adult (15-49) prevalence in this region is 0.3% with between 570,000 and 890,000 people currently living with HIV. Due to the availability of antiretroviral therapy, AIDS deaths have stayed low since the lows of the late 1990s. The Economist reported in January 2000 that almost 40% of AIDS sufferers are intravenous drug users.[1]
Regarding the social effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, there has been since the 1980s a "profound re-medicalization of sexuality".[2][3]
As part of the global AIDS pandemic, there is also growing concern about a rapidly growing epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
According to data from CIA World Factbook (2009), the countries with the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Europe are Estonia (1.20% in people aged 15–49), Ukraine (1.10%), Russia (1.00%), Latvia (0.70%), Portugal (0.60%).[4]
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Russia [edit]
By 2004 the number of reported cases in Russia was over 257,000, according to the World Health Organization, up from 15,000 in 1995 and 190,000 in 2002; some estimates claim the real number is up to five times higher, over 1 million. There are predictions that the infection rate in Russia will continue to rise quickly, since prevention measures may not be sufficient.
Ukraine and Estonia [edit]
Ukraine and Estonia also had growing numbers of infected people, with estimates of 500,000 and 3,700 respectively in 2005. The epidemic is still in its early stages in this region, which means that prevention strategies may be able to halt and reverse this epidemic. However, transmission of HIV is increasing through sexual contact and drug use among the young (<30 years). Indeed, over 80% of current infections occur in this region in people less than 30 years of age.
Czech Republic [edit]
Czech Republic announced for World AIDS Day 2008 that 128 people are reported to have HIV this year, for a total of reported 1,170 cases. The disease has claimed 140 lives in the Czech Republic.[5]
See also [edit]
- AIDS pandemic
- HIV/AIDS in Africa
- HIV/AIDS in Asia
- HIV/AIDS in North America
- HIV/AIDS in South America
References [edit]
- ^ "Going Dutch?". The Economist. January 13, 2000. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- ^ Aggleton, Peter; Parker, Richard Bordeaux; Barbosa, Regina Maria (2000). Framing the sexual subject: the politics of gender, sexuality, and power. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-21838-8. p.3
- ^ Carole S. Vance "Anthropology Rediscovers Sexuality: A Theoretical Comment." Social Science and Medicine 33 (8) 875-884 1991
- ^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2155rank.html
- ^ http://aktualne.centrum.cz/czechnews/clanek.phtml?id=623704
Unprecedented number of new HIV cases in ČR
External links [edit]
- AIDS epidemic update 2005 (PDF)
- Specific country data from UNAIDS
- AIDSPortal Western Europe page Latest research, case studies and news stories
- AIDSPortal Eastern Europe page Latest research, case studies and news stories
