AIDS in Iraq epidemiology and transmission before and after 2003

Abstract EN

Aim : to determine epidemiological characteristic of all cases of AIDS that were still alive up to the 31st of Dec.

2002 and compare them with the newly diagnosed cases during the year 2004.

Patients and methods : the study was carried out in health centers that perform HIV test, and the communicable disease control center in Baghdad.

The study was conducted during the year 2005 and a cross-sectional design was adopted.

Demographic characteristic of patients were documented as well as the source of their infection.

Results showed that 77 % of newly diagnosed cases during the year 2004-2005 were of age group 20-39 years and males constituted 84.6 % of cases, and they had acquired the disease from abroad or by blood transfusion.

The highest rate of cases that were still alive up to the 31st of Dec.

2003 was in age group 20-39 also, the rate of males was 68 %, and 58.3 % of them had acquired the disease by blood transfusion.

Conclusion : AIDS is highest among young adult males, and the disease is acquired by blood transfusion or imported from abroad.

The difference between the newly diagnosed cases of 2004-2005 and those pooled up until the 31 of Dec.

2002 was that there were cases of younger age group and the disease was acquired by parenteral route mainly.