Review of HIV vulnerability and condom use in central and eastern Europe

Abstract

The epidemiological trend of increasing HIV incidence rates due to sexual transmission in Central and Eastern Europe has been documented. The current review analyzed research articles that report on a wide spectrum of vulnerable populations from this world region. Studies of injection drug users, commercial sex workers, men who have sex with men, adolescents and young adults all reported inconsistent condom use. However, these patterns varied across populations and geographic areas. Populations in former Soviet countries—most affected by HIV—also often appeared to have lower condom use rates. Intensified, comprehensive, and locally-tailored measures to curb sexual HIV transmission are urgently needed. Social development programs need to incorporate HIV prevention.

Índice de vulnerabilidad al VIH en población habitante de calle

“…Desde ese momento, se empezaron a definir los grupos vulnerables al VIH/Sida como aquellos individuos que practicaban conductas de riesgo o que no se protegían adecuadamente (11) ; pero a medida que la enfermedad se fue propagando, los grupos vulnerables fueron definidos por la capacidad de protegerse frente a conductas riesgosas, y esa capacidad está estrechamente relacionada con las condiciones sociales, culturales y demográficas (12) . Es decir, se reconoció que la infección por VIH es una fuente de vulnerabilidad social, con mayores consecuencias en los grupos con menores ventajas (13) .…”

“…El modelo de poblaciones vulnerables ampliado, incorpora tradicionales factores descritos en el modelo de Andersen (34,35) y también incluyen vulnerabilidades específicas comunes entre las personas sin hogar, tales como el abuso de sustancias, enfermedad mental, y las barreras para la atención de salud; estos tres componentes son similares a los observados en el análisis exploratorio realizado en el que los tres factores determinantes fueron el abuso de sustancias, la percepción de enfermedad, incluyendo la enfermedad mental y como otro factor el apoyo social y familiar descrito por otros autores en el marco de la vulnerabilidad al VIH (11,36,37) . La vulnerabilidad de una población con el VIH/Sida tiene sus raíces en los procesos sociales y las causas subyacentes que pueden realmente estar muy relacionadas con el resultado final en sí, es decir, la transmisión del VIH.…”

Determinants of Consistent Condom Use Among Iranians Living with HIV/AIDS: Implication for Prevention

“…In a bio-behavioral survey conducted among young gay and bisexual men in New Zealand, some variables such as recruitment type, ethnicity, lower education, sero-positivity of HIV, sex with females, and having more than 20 sex partners were found as the associated parameters of infrequent condom use (9). Review of condom use among the most at risk populations including FSWs, men who have sex with men (MSM), as well as adolescents and young adults in Europe revealed that the pattern of inconsistent condom use depends on the geographic areas and the populations (10). Different cultural norms and different HIV prevention programs in the target countries can partly justify these findings.…”

Emerging opportunities and challenges for HIV prevention, treatment and care for MSM in the former Soviet Union and other post-communist states in Eastern Europe

“…[2] A large body of research indicates that high-risk sexual practices among MSM are common. [3] Large proportions of MSM in the region exchange sex for_ money or valuables and use alcohol and other substances. [4] Although overall HIV incidence rates vary across the region, there have been sharp increases in the number of MSM among recorded HIV cases diagnosed in many counties including Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia as well as the post-Soviet republics of Belarus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine.[!]…”