THE STRATEGY OF PREVENTING BLOOD TRANSMIS SION OF HIV AIDS IN MEXICO

This study presents blood-associated AIDS epidemic trends in Mexico,in cluding cases due to blood transfusions, cases in professional blood d onors and hemophiliacs. We present also an overview of preventive meas ures -both legal and educative- undertaken to prevent this type of tra nsmission and its effects-on the epidemic. The first blood-associated AIDS cases in Mexico were reported in 1985, since then and up To July 1, 1994 a total of 1 728 adult cases and 116 pediatric cases have been reported (12.3% and 25% of the total cases, respectively). As in many Other parts in the world in Mexico women were markedly affected by th is form of transmission; the women to men morbidity ratio is 1.35. Ano ther group particularly affected by AIDS in Mexico are professional bl ood donors, who were infected because of-improper management and recyc ling of blood transfusion centers bank materials such as plasmapheresi s sets, in some blood transfusion centers in our country. Blood screen ing is mandatory for all blood donors in Mexico since May, 1986. A yea r later blood commercialization was banned because of the extremely hi gh HN infection prevalences found in some professional blood donors (7 .2%). Since that time a whole set of preventive measures has been impl emented in our country, including blood quality and safety control as well as educative interventions. Results of these measures began to be come evident by the end of 1991, when newly reported blood associated AIDS cases started to decrease, as opposed to their continuous growth seen in previous years. Up to July 1, 1994 we estimate that a total of 2 750 AIDS cases have been prevented through these measures, recoveri ng an average of 36 years of potential life for each of them. Although blood transmission preventive measures have rendered significant achi evements, we still have to face some very complex challenges such as p otential ruralization of the epidemic and its impact on HN infection p revalences among potential blood donors and therefore the need to ensu re blood screening in rural areas.