Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3)

Encouraging Innovation: Ten Research Priorities for Achieving Universal Access to HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Europe by 2010

Jeffrey V. Lazarus, Ulrich Laukamm-Josten, Rifat A. Atun, Jerker Liljestrand, Ida Vase, Srdan Matic

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):95-98 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3481  

When the HIV epidemic officially hit western Europe in the early 1980s, central and eastern Europe were almost completely spared due to the isolation of the Soviet Union. However, in the mid-1990s, reported new cases of HIV in eastern European countries began to increase exponentially. While there have been many declarations and strategies addressing HIV/AIDS, today the goal is universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support services by 2010. The articles included in this thematic issue of the Central European Journal of Public Health on HIV/AIDS reflect this, while the ten priorities listed below are immediate and sometimes innovative...

The EuroSIDA Study: Regional Differences in the HIV-1 Epidemic and Treatment Response to Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV-infected Patients across Europe - A Review of Published Results

Daria Podlekareva, Wendy Bannister, Amanda Mocroft, Ludmila Abrosimova, Igor Karpov, Jens D. Lundgren, Ole Kirk

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):99-105 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3490  

EuroSIDA is a pan-European observational study that follows 14,265 HIV-infected patients from 31 European countries, Israel and Argentina, of which 2,560 are patients from eastern Europe (EE). The study group has performed several analyses addressing regional differences in the HIV-epidemic across Europe, where all countries were divided into five regions: south, west central, north, east central Europe and EE. Significant regional differences in patients' characteristics and pattern of AIDS diagnoses were documented. More patients from EE were diagnosed with tuberculosis compared to other regions. Significantly fewer HIV-infected patients in EE, who...

Monitoring AIDS treatment by regular physical examination is nearly as effective as advanced laboratory tests.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):105

Addressing HCV Infection in Europe: Reported, Estimated and Undiagnosed Cases

Simona Merkinaite, Jeffrey V. Lazarus, Charles Gore

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):106-110 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3482  

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem due to its high prevalence, high rate of onward transmission and health complications. As many as 85% of people infected with HCV may go on to become chronic carriers of the disease with the risk of developing liver cancer or cirrhosis. At present, it is the most common cause of chronic liver disease and liver transplantation in a number of countries, with an estimated 250,000 people dying annually from HCV-related causes.Despite the magnitude of the problem, the virus does not receive adequate attention from either the general public or from health policy-makers. This study assesses...

Quality of Life of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Estonia

Kristi Rüütel, Anneli Uusküla, Anastassia Minossenko, Helle-Mai Loit

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):111-115 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3461  

The assessment of quality of life is central to understanding how people's lives are affected by HIV infection. Estonia - the smallest of three Baltic countries - has experienced massive outbreak of HIV infection. Yet, little is known about the quality of life of HIV infected people in Estonia. The purposes of the present study were to adapt the World Health Organization's Quality of life HIV instrument (WHOQoL-HIV) into Estonian setting and to assess the quality of life in a sample of HIV-infected persons in Estonia.

World leaders at UN meeting call for joint action to reduce tuberculosis deaths among people living with HIV.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):115

A Survey of HIV and HCV among Female Prison Inmates in Portugal

Henrique Barros, Elisabete Ramos, Raquel Lucas

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):116-120 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3477  

HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) monitoring among prison inmates is instrumental in countries with concentrated HIV/AIDS epidemics. Knowledge on these dynamics in imprisoned women in Portugal is scarce.The HIV and HCV prevalence was estimated among inmates in the largest Portuguese prison for women, which holds 57% of all female inmates in Portugal, according to sociodemographic and behavioural variables and characterised attitudes towards HIV/AIDS according to serological status.Collected variables included age, education, country of birth, penal status, and accumulated time in prison. Drug injection and sharing of injection material were inquired,...

Implementation of Substitution Therapy in Georgia

Khatuna Todadze, Gela Lezhava

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):121-123 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3465  

The geopolitical uniqueness of the regional, socioeconomic situation and the existence of territories outside the control of the national government have facilitated the spread of drug use in Georgia. A special problem is injection of opiates, in particular heroin and Subutex (buprenorphine). It has been established that among registered HIV infected individuals the main route of transmission is injecting drug use. Although the prevalence of HIV among IDUs (injecting drug user) is only 1-3%, the high number of IDUs, and the high prevalence of hepatitis C in this population creates high risk of dramatic spread of HIV in Georgia. Beginning at the end...

HIV and Selected Blood-borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections in a Predominantly Roma (Gypsy) Neighbourhood in Budapest, Hungary: A Rapid Assessment

V. Anna Gyarmathy, Eszter Ujhelyi, Alan Neaigus

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):124-127 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3479  

We assessed the prevalence of HIV and selected blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections among a convenience sample of 64 residents of Dzsumbuj, a predominantly Roma (Gypsy) neighbourhood in Budapest, Hungary. No cases of HIV were detected, while the prevalence of hepatitis B infection (anti-HBc) was 27% and syphilis prevalence was 2%. Romas (n=50) were significantly more likely than non-Romas (n=14) to have HAV antibodies (80% vs. 43%) and less likely to be HBV immunized (anti-HBs only; 6% vs. 29%). Current drug injectors (n=13) were more likely than non-injectors (n=51) to have antibodies against HAV (85% vs. 69%) and HCV (85% vs. 8%). While...

Nearly three million HIV-positive people now receiving life-saving drugs. But access to prevention and treatment still lacking for millions.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):127, 133

Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV: The Georgian Experience

Tengiz Tsertsvadze, Tea Kakabadze, Ketevan Shermadini, Akaki Abutidze, Marika Karchava, Nikoloz Chkhartishvili, Nino Badridze, Zaza Bokhua, Tengiz Asatiani

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):128-133 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3484  

Objective: The objective of this paper is to review experience in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in Georgia. Background: PMTCT is one of the strategic priorities in Georgia. The first case of HIV infection in pregnant women was reported in 1999. Starting 2005 the National Programme on PMTCT became operational.Materials and Methods: One hundred sixteen HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) centers operate throughout the country at antenatal clinics. According to the National PMTCT protocol, all first time attending pregnant women are offered Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT). Testing on HIV/AIDS is based on...

Professional Risk, Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Health Care Personnel in Serbia with Regard to HIV and AIDS

Biljana Kocić, Branislav Petrović, Dragan Bogdanović, Jovica Jovanović, Dragana Nikić, Maja Nikolić

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):134-137 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3470  

The aim of our investigation was to assess HIV/AIDS-related professional risk, knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers in Niš. A cross-sectional study of health personnel from Primary Health Centre, Clinical Medical Centre and Dental Clinic in Niš was performed. The data were collected by an anonymous questionnaire. Mantel-Haenszel χ2 testing and multiple logistic regression analysis were applied. Results show that 89% of health personnel perceived high professional risk of acquiring HIV infection. The risk perception of acquiring HIV infections was higher among those who were frequently exposed to patients' blood and other body...

HIV Drug Resistance Tendencies in Latvia

Tatjana Kolupajeva, Pauls Aldins, Ludmila Guseva, Diana Dusacka, Valentina Sondore, Ludmila Viksna, Baiba Rozentale

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):138-140 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3473  

The treatment of HIV infection in Latvia by using highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was started in 1996.The prevalence and tendencies of HIV drug resistance among treated and treatment-naive patients in Latvia in the years 2006-2007 were evaluated in this study. Data of HIV genotyping, performed in 132 HIV-1 infected during years 2006-2007 by TRUGENE HIV-1 genotyping assay (BayerHealthCare-diagnostics) are included in the study.Analysis of data showed that in the group of treatment-naive individuals majority carried wild type virus. Prevalence of resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) in the treatment-naive group according to IAS...

ART Failure and Strategies for Switching ART Regimens in Europe

Irina Eramova, Monique Munz, Jens Lundgren, Srdan Matic

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):141-144 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3491  

The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels and the Business of AIDS

Jeffrey V. Lazarus

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):145  

Restoring Hope: Decent Care in the Midst of HIV/AIDS

Nathan Grills

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):146  

Progress on Implementing the Dublin Declaration on Partnership to Fight HIV/AIDS in Europe and Central Asia

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(3):148