Case report
Epidemiology of HIV Infection and AIDS in Croatia – An Overview
Ira Gjenero-Margan
Branko Kolarić
Abstract
This article presents an overview of HIV/AIDS epidemiology and surveillance in Croatia 20 years after the first documented
case of AIDS in the country. Here we describe strategies employed for HIV/AIDS surveillance in Croatia as well
as preliminary results of HIV seroprevalence among most-at-risk populations (MARPs) research conducted by the Infectious
Diseases Epidemiology Service at the Croatian National Institute of Public Health (CNIPH). Croatia has a low incidence
and prevalence of HIV and AIDS. At the end of 2005, there were 553 documented cases of HIV infection, 239 of
which progressed to AIDS. In Croatia, AIDS is being registered within MARPs only and dominantly among men who
have sex with men (MSM). AIDS patients and HIV infected persons are found in all parts of the country. Crude prevalence
of HIV among MARPs was found to be 0.9%. It is necessary to continue with current prevention and control measures
in the country, and to create a culture of awareness and precaution, a strategy that has proven effective in reducing
risk of HIV infection.
Keywords
HIV; AIDS; epidemiology; Croatia; MARP; surveillance
Hrčak ID:
27700
URI
Publication date:
25.4.2006.
Visits: 2.804 *