title: Status of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and methods to monitor it in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
abstract: The paper presented is a review of the available epidemiological data on the situation in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, and looks at HIV prevalence in specific population groups. At the end of 2001, HIV remains an important health issue in the LAC region. Twelve countries in the region have an estimated prevalence of 1% or higher among pregnant women. Most of the LAC countries with generalized epidemics are located in the Caribbean basin. In the past decade there has been a slow but continuous increase in HIV prevalence rates among the general population and vulnerable groups, although information in some countries is limited. In many countries, the highest HIV prevalence among vulnerable groups is found among men who have sex with men. HIV infections related to injecting drug use are concentrated in the countries of the Southern Cone and Brazil. HIV is well anchored in the region, concentrated in vulnerable groups in most countries, but with an increasing presence in some countries in the general population. There is a need to improve data collection and introduce new tools to monitor behavior trends and the impact of interventions.
authors.affiliation: UNAIDS, Geneva, Switzerland. callejaj@who.int
authors.forename: Jesus M Garcia
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Calleja
authors.forename: Neff
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cuchi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lazzari
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Ghys
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zacarias
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D014171:Transients and Migrants