The Epidemiology of HIV in Oman, 1984–2018: A Nationwide Study from the Middle East

Abstract

We used population-based data on all diagnosed people living with Human Immunodeficiency (HIV) reported to the National AIDS Programme in 1984–2018 to describe the HIV epidemiology in Oman. A total of 3060 Omanis were diagnosed with HIV from 1984 to 2018. The proportions of new infections attributed to sexual contact accounted for 56.3% (376/668) in 1984–1996 compared with 80.7% (630/780) in 2013–2018. Of 1417 patients with a documented CD4 count at the entry of care, 45.3% had a baseline CD4 count of <200 cells/mm 3 . Compared with heterosexuals, homosexuals had higher rates of advanced HIV disease [42.7% (388/908) vs 50.4% (136/270), respectively]. Rates of advanced disease and death within a year of HIV diagnosis rose consistently with age at diagnosis. Approximately half (48.8%) of the patients diagnosed in 1984–2018 had died by December 2018. The majority (85.6%; 572/668) of people who were diagnosed in 1984–1997 had died compared with 12.7% (99/780) of those diagnosed in 2013–2018. However, people died more recently had a higher proportion of death within a year of HIV diagnosis [74.7% (74/99) in 2013–2018 compared with 13.8% (79/572) in 1984–1996]. This study shows that the HIV epidemic in Oman is a low-prevalence one. Of concern, a large proportion of new HIV diagnoses continued to present late, which has resulted in a substantial increase in short-term mortality over the past 20 years. Nevertheless, we observed a remarkable decline in overall mortality over time, which may be explained by the improvement in the quality of HIV care in Oman.

Global Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS: A Resurgence in North America and Europe

“…Preexposure prophylaxis, viral suppression leading to the concept of ‘Undetectable = Untransmittable’ (U = U), and antenatal regimens were expected to further reduce the transmission of the virus [ 10 , 11 ]. HIV infections vary by regions, even within countries [ 12 , 13 ]. These variations in HIV prevalence have important implications in the efforts to bring HIV pandemic under control.…”

The changing profile of paediatric HIV infection: An experience from the Middle East

“…Oman has accessible primary health care, with exceptionally high antenatal care coverage and institutional delivery (99.6%). This allowed the Sultanate of Oman to be among the pioneering countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to implement effective PMTCT and achieve more than 95% screening and ART coverage (Elgalib et al, 2020;SOMH, 2020SOMH, , 2018. Routine antenatal HIV screening for pregnant women was introduced in Kuwait in 2015 and in Saudi Arabia in 2018 (HIV, 2019;HIV Country Progress Report, 2019).…”

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Predictors of virologic failure among people living with HIV in Oman: a national study from the Middle East

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