title: [The spread of HIV in Greenland. Heterosexual epidemic--risk or reality? A 10-year review of HIV transmission and preventive care].
abstract: With the first report of an HIV-positive Inuit in 1985 Greenland was considered a high risk area for a self-sustained heterosexual HIV-epidemic, due to high incidences of sexually transmitted diseases. In 1986 a national HIV-intervention programme began with two major aims: Firstly, improved STD treatment and incitation to change of sexual high-risk behaviour, secondly, close monitoring of HIV-antibody test activity, partner notification and repeated surveys of knowledge and sexual behaviour in selected populations. Very early the spread of HIV in Greenland became heterosexually transmitted and self-sustained, with repeated local small-scale epidemics in a subpopulation characterized by frequent STD's, alcoholism, lack of education and vulnerable social and economic resources. From 1994 to 1997 a marked increase in new cases was reported, and in November 1997 the total number was 76 HIV-positives in the Greenlandic population of 50,000 Inuits. The successful defeat of STD's, such as gonorrhoea and syphilis has not been followed by a change in sexual behaviour among the youth in Greenland. High incidences of genital chlamydial infections, early sexual debut and high frequencies of excessive promiscuity render Greenland an alarming potential for a future HIV-epidemic. This threat calls for an intensified national prevention programme, with close monitoring of the known HIV-positives and the potentially infected persons in the population at risk, and new campaigns to reduce high-risk sexual behaviour among the youth.
authors.affiliation: H:S Rigshospitalet, afdeling M.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winthereik
mesh_terms: D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006116:Greenland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
vernacular_title: HIV-udbredelsen i Grønland. Heteroseksuel epidemi--risiko eller realitet? En oversigt over ti års hiv-smitteudbredelse og forebyggelsesarbejde.