Has there been a turning point in the numbers of AIDS and HIV antibody positive cases in Ireland?

Background Major developments in the prevention and treatment of human immu nodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS) have taken place in recent years. Changes in the size of the HIV and AIDS epidemic need to be monitored to assess these developments and plan fu ture services. Aims To describe temporal trends in the incidence of HIV and AIDS in Irelan d, describing separately the major risk groups, and to explore possible ass ociations between these trends with developments in care. Methods The annual numbers of HIV and AIDS in Ireland were analysed to dete rmine whether there has been a turning point in incidence. Results For AIDS, there has been an overall decrease in numbers since 1993, with both homosexual and intravenous drug users (IDU) risk groups exhibiti ng a decrease. For HIV antibody positive individuals, overall numbers have remained constant. However, there has been an upward trend in the heterosex ual risk group and a downward trend in the IDU risk group. Thus both AIDS a nd HIV numbers exhibit turning points. Conclusions Declines in HIV and AIDS incidence in the homosexual and IDU ri sk groups are indirectly attributable to health safety and treatment progra mmes. The increase in HIV antibody positive cases among heterosexuals may r eflect a relapse in safe sex behaviour.