Reported numbers of HIV infections have provided an indication of the order
of magnitude of the size of the HIV epidemic in Poland, and how it has evo
lved in time. To the end of 1996, most documented infections had been obser
ved among intravenous drug users (IDUs, n=2,933/3,470) and, to a lesser ext
ent, men who have sex with men (MSM, 289/3,470). Reported infections among
non-IDU prostitutes and other non-IDU heterosexuals remained low. In this p
aper we describe surveillance systems and epidemiologic data in Poland from
1985 to 1996 for AIDS cases, HIV infections and other STDs. We also discus
s the contributions of different vulnerable groups. Finally we discuss fact
ors influencing the past spread of HIV infection and the potential for futu
re spread, and propose recommendations for surveillance and research.