The global burden of HIV/AIDS in Russia in terms of public health. Part 1

Abstract

Objective. Evaluation of the global HIV burden in Russia, identification of progress made and outstanding problems for 1987–2021.Materials and methods. The analysis of national and foreign publications, data obtained from Rosstat, from forms of federal statistical observation and the FNM of the AIDS Center of Rospotrebnadzor was carried out. The study used information-analytical, epidemiological and statistical methods. Mathematical calculations were performed using the SPSS-26 program.Results and discussion. In Russia, the target indicators of the state program of HIV/AIDS response strategy is being provided in different directions: the greatest success has been achieved in conducting chemoprevention of mother to child HIV transmission, somewhat less in the coverage of the population with HIV testing, which amounted to 26.1% versus the target indicator of 30.0% in 2021, the number of newly detected cases of HIV infection is decreasing (from 73.7 to 71.0 thousand people in 2020–2021, versus the target indicators of 76.1 and 72.3 thousand people, respectively), there is decreasing the HIV incidence (40.4 per 100 thousand. in 2021 versus 68.5 in 2015). Antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage of patients registered in AIDS Centers went up from 12.4% to 78.9% in 2007–2021. Meanwhile, the determining factor in the HIV/AIDS epidemic progress in Russia is a heterosexual route (F=75.1, p<0.0001) leading to the penetration of infection into all population segments. In addition, despite the increase in the coverage of ART for people living with HIV (PLWH), the HIV mortality rate is remaining high (11.6 per 100 thousand population in 2021, versus 7.9 in 2007).Conclusion. In recent years, there has been a positive trend in the coverage of three-stage HIV chemoprophylaxis in pregnant women, women in labor and newborns. The number of HIV population based screening tests is increasing annually. There is an increase in the ART coverage of patients and a decrease in the number of newly diagnosed cases of the disease. However, along with the observed increase in the HIV spread through heterosexual contacts, it is necessary to strengthen information and preventive measures, especially among the reproductive age group. The high HIV mortality rate is continuing to remain, despite the increase in ART coverage of PLWH. The identified problems need to be solved comprehensively based on the results of large-scale sociological research conducted in various regions of Russia.