HIV AIDS IN COSTA-RICA - EPIDEMIOLOGIC AND SOCIOLOGICAL FEATURES, 1993

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first detected in Costa Pica in 1983. For four years most known cases were in hemophiliac men. Thereafter, AIDS in homosexual and bisexual men predominated. By Dece mber 31 of 1993, 563 persons had been diagnosed with the syndrome, 71% of them homosexual and bisexual men, 10% heterosexual men and women, 6% hemophiliacs, 2% intravenous drug abusers (IVDA's), 2% women and me n who had blood transfusions, 1.4% infants born to HIV-infected mother s and 7% unknown. The epidemics in homosexual/bisexual men and in hete rosexual women and men are rising; cases in infants and in persons who received blood or coagulation factors, are stagnant. The steady incre ase in AIDS among women is linked to exposure to bisexual partners. Th e moderate nature of the national epidemic reflects, in part, the low incidence of IVDA, the universal screening of blood donors for antibod ies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) since 1985, and the prom pt banning of unsafe coagulation factors. The projection of AIDS for t he year 2000 is 2,304 cases (606 accumulated incidence per million inh abitants). A national educational campaign, radio and television progr ams and other preventive actions, apparently did not influence the rat e of receptive anal intercourse without condom (about 80%) during 9 ye ars of the epidemic. Persons with HIV/AIDS often are deprived of socia l and medical benefits or are subjected to harassment and exploitation by the health sector. More efficient prevention must target children, adolescents and adults in reproductive age, to promote safer lifestyl es, through education and counseling effected through primary health c are.