Late presentation to care for HIV infection in Croatia and the effect of interventions during the Croatian Global Fund Project
Begovac, J.; Gedike, K.; Lukas, D.; Lepej, S.Zidovec.
Aids and Behavior 12(4 Suppl): S48-S53
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1090-7165 PMID: 18459042 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-008-9398-9Document Number: 202396
There are limited data on how HIV prevention interventions affect individuals presenting to care in settings with a low-level HIV epidemic. We examined whether interventions undertaken during the Croatian Global Fund Project in 2004-2006 had an influence on patients entering care. The number of men who have sex with men (MSM) presenting in 2004-2006 (n = 86) was 59% higher than in 2001-2003 (n = 54); in heterosexual patients the increase was 14% (n = 51 in 2001-2003; n = 58 in 2004-2006). MSM presented at a younger age (median 32 years) in 2004-2006 than in 2001-2003 (median 36 years). Late presentation to care was found in 28% of MSM and in 59% of heterosexual patients in 2004-2006. MSM were less frequently late presenters in 2004-2006 compared with 2001-2003 (odds ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.24 to 0.99; P = 0.046). Additional strategies for earlier initiation of care must be developed for MSM and particularly for heterosexual patients.
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