A Surveillance Report of HIV Status and High Risk Behaviors Among Rapid Testing Participants in Tallinn, Estonia

Abstract

Estonia has the second highest adult HIV prevalence in Europe of 1.3%. The primary transmission is among injecting drug users (IDU), who account for 56-90% of HIV infections (Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic: UNAIDS/WHO, July 2008 and Platt et al. AIDS 20(16):2120-2123, 2006). Of those persons newly diagnosed, 50.4% reported injecting drugs in the last 12 months, 16.3% of these reported IDU as the sole risk factor and 31.2% reported IDU among other risk factors. In this sample (n = 790) 170 persons reported a high risk behavior and 51 persons received a positive result through rapid testing. The largest proportion (35.29%) was among persons reporting high risk heterosexual intercourse and second (33.33%) among persons sharing injecting equipment. Covariates in a logistic regression model indicate that male sex (OR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.00-6.59), non-Estonian ethnicity (OR = 2.68, 95% CI 1.46-4.93), higher education (OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.40-0.80), and high risk heterosexual intercourse (OR = 2.68, 95% CI 1.19-6.02) are statistically significant in predicting a positive HIV status.

HIV/STI Prevalence Study Among Military Conscripts in Estonia

“…Continuation of testing among the conscripted forces should be developed and routinely implemented to ensure that the military is in the best level of physical ability in all aspects of health. The recommendations of STI testing of conscripts according to the current Estonian guidance for civilians through the use of rapid testing could potentially increase testing uptake, reduce associated expenses, and reduce secondary STI transmission [11].…”

The global north

“…For example, only two articles reviewed provided primary data on HIV prevalence or incidence among sex workers [17,18] and one reported self-reported HIV prevalence data for transgendered women [19]. For example, only two articles reviewed provided primary data on HIV prevalence or incidence among sex workers [17,18] and one reported self-reported HIV prevalence data for transgendered women [19].…”

Piloting HIV rapid testing in community-based settings in Estonia

“…Fifty-eight people received a positive test result during this study, all of whom were at the SEP. Of these, 46 were new cases, 30 reported no previous HIV test, 52 reported injecting drug use in last 12 months, and 22 reported sharing syringes and/or other injecting equipment within last 12 months. HIV-related knowledge and behaviours of persons tested are summarised in detail elsewhere [15–17].…”