Review article
HIV/AIDS epidemiology in Croatia and the services of HIV counseling and testing centers
Tatjana Nemeth Blažić
; Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo, Služba za epidemiologiju; Zagreb; Hrvatska
Jasmina Pavlić
; Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo, Služba za epidemiologiju; Zagreb; Hrvatska
Abstract
The paper presents the epidemiological situation in Croatia regarding HIV/AIDS from the beginning of HIV/AIDS surveillance to date. The paper alse describes the activities of the centers for free-of-charge and anonymous counseling and testing for HIV (HIV counseling centers) that were founded in 2003 offering their services at the Croatian National Institute of Public Health (CNIPH), County Public Health Institutes in Pula, Rijeka, Split, Zadar, Osijek, Slavonski Brod, Dubrovnik and Kor~ula, Prison hospital in Zagreb and the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Dr. Fran Mihaljević”. In the period 1986–2012, the Registry of HIV/AIDS patients at the Epidemiology Service of the CNIPH recorded 1017 persons infected with HIV, of whom 371 developed AIDS. In the same period, 187 persons died of AIDS. In Croatia, HIV/AIDS is registered almost exclusively among high risk population, with homosexual route being the most dominant route of transmission. The annual incidence of HIV infection amounts to about 12–17 per million inhabitants, which categorizes Croatia as a country with a low level incidence of HIV (57/1 million was the average for EU/EEA countries in 2011). From 2003 until 2012, HIV counseling centers in Croatia have provided 37 509 counseling sessions for 20 804 clients and conducted HIV testing for 20 106 persons, during which 181 persons with HIV-infection were detected and referred to further care and therapy.
Keywords
HIV/AIDS; epidemiology; HIV voluntary counseling and testing; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
106539
URI
Publication date:
31.3.2013.
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