HIV/AIDS epidemiology in Croatia and the services of HIV counseling and testing centers

Abstract

Članak prikazuje epidemiološku situaciju u Hrvatskoj od početka praćenja HIV/AIDS-a do danas. U radu se prikazuje i rad centara za besplatno i anonimno savjetovanje i testiranje na HIV (HIV savjetovališta) koji od 2003. djeluju pri Hrvatskom zavodu za javno zdravstvo (HZJZ) u Zagrebu, županijskim zavodima za javno zdravstvo u Puli, Rijeci, Splitu, Zadru, Osijeku, Slavonskom Brodu, Dubrovniku i Korčuli, te pri Zatvorskoj bolnici i Klinici za infektivne bolesti “Dr. Fran Mihaljević” u Zagrebu. U Registru oboljelih od HIV/AIDS-a Službe za epidemiologiju HZJZ-a u razdoblju od 1986. do 2012. godine registrirano je 1017 osoba s HIV infekcijom, od čega 371 oboljeli od AIDS-a. U istom je razdoblju 187 osoba umrlo od HIV/AIDS-a. HIV/AIDS se u Hrvatskoj registrira gotovo isključivo unutar grupa povećanog rizika, a prema vjerojatnom putu prijenosa dominira homoseksualni. Godišnja učestalost HIV infekcije kreće se oko 12–17 na milijun stanovnika, što Hrvatsku i dalje svrstava u zemlje s malim brojem zaraženih HIV-om (57/1 milijun prosjek za zemlje EU/EEA u 2011.). Od 2003. do 2012. godine HIV savjetovališta koja djeluju u Hrvatskoj su pružila 37 509 savjetovanja za 20 804 korisnika, a 20 106 osoba su testirane na HIV pri čemu je otkrivena 181 osoba zaražena HIV-om.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