Epidemiological Evolution of HIV in Pakistan (1987-2026): From High-risk Populations to Emerging Pediatric Cases.

IF 4.4 2区医学 Q2 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Current HIV/AIDS Reports Pub Date : 2026-10-20 DOI:10.1007/s11904-026-00800-4

Akash John, Tallat Anwar Faridi, Neelam Iqbal

{"title":"Epidemiological Evolution of HIV in Pakistan (1987-2026): From High-risk Populations to Emerging Pediatric Cases.","authors":"Akash John, Tallat Anwar Faridi, Neelam Iqbal","doi":"10.1007/s11904-026-00800-4","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Purpose of review: This narrative review examines the evolving epidemiology of HIV in Pakistan from 1987 to 2026, focusing on temporal trends among key populations, geographic hotspots, emerging pediatric infections, and health-system gaps affecting epidemic control.Recent findings: Evidence indicates a persistent concentrated epidemic, with the highest burden among people who inject drugs and continuing transmission among sex workers, transgender populations, and prisoners. HIV transmission remains geographically heterogeneous, with major urban hotspots in Karachi and cities across Punjab. Recent pediatric outbreaks have introduced an important healthcare-associated dimension, with unsafe medical practices and weaknesses in infection prevention and control emerging as major concerns. Pakistan's HIV epidemic remains concentrated but is becoming increasingly complex. Persistent transmission among key populations, geographic expansion, pediatric infections, and substantial gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and viral suppression highlight the need for strengthened surveillance, prevention, infection control, and continuity of HIV care.","PeriodicalId":10930,"journal":{"name":"Current HIV/AIDS Reports","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Current HIV/AIDS Reports","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-026-00800-4","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose of review: This narrative review examines the evolving epidemiology of HIV in Pakistan from 1987 to 2026, focusing on temporal trends among key populations, geographic hotspots, emerging pediatric infections, and health-system gaps affecting epidemic control.

Recent findings: Evidence indicates a persistent concentrated epidemic, with the highest burden among people who inject drugs and continuing transmission among sex workers, transgender populations, and prisoners. HIV transmission remains geographically heterogeneous, with major urban hotspots in Karachi and cities across Punjab. Recent pediatric outbreaks have introduced an important healthcare-associated dimension, with unsafe medical practices and weaknesses in infection prevention and control emerging as major concerns. Pakistan's HIV epidemic remains concentrated but is becoming increasingly complex. Persistent transmission among key populations, geographic expansion, pediatric infections, and substantial gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and viral suppression highlight the need for strengthened surveillance, prevention, infection control, and continuity of HIV care.

查看原文本刊更多论文

巴基斯坦HIV的流行病学演变（1987-2026）：从高危人群到新出现的儿科病例。

综述目的：本综述研究了1987年至2026年巴基斯坦艾滋病流行病学的演变，重点关注重点人群、地理热点、新发儿科感染和影响流行病控制的卫生系统差距的时间趋势。最近发现：有证据表明，疫情持续集中，注射吸毒者负担最重，性工作者、变性人群和囚犯之间的传播仍在继续。艾滋病毒的传播在地理上仍然是不均匀的，主要的城市热点在卡拉奇和旁遮普省的城市。最近的儿科疫情带来了与卫生保健相关的一个重要方面，不安全的医疗做法和感染预防和控制方面的弱点成为主要问题。巴基斯坦的艾滋病毒流行仍然集中，但正变得越来越复杂。关键人群中的持续传播、地域扩张、儿科感染以及诊断、治疗和病毒抑制方面的巨大差距突出了加强监测、预防、感染控制和艾滋病毒护理连续性的必要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Current HIV/AIDS Reports INFECTIOUS DISEASES-

CiteScore

8.10

自引率

2.20%

发文量

期刊介绍： This journal intends to provide clear, insightful, balanced contributions by international experts that review the most important, recently published clinical findings related to the diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of HIV/AIDS. We accomplish this aim by appointing international authorities to serve as Section Editors in key subject areas, such as antiretroviral therapies, behavioral aspects of management, and metabolic complications and comorbidity. Section Editors, in turn, select topics for which leading experts contribute comprehensive review articles that emphasize new developments and recently published papers of major importance, highlighted by annotated reference lists. An international Editorial Board reviews the annual table of contents, suggests articles of special interest to their country/region, and ensures that topics are current and include emerging research. Commentaries from well-known figures in the field are also provided.