[HIV prevalence among individuals having had serology performed in eight Spanish cities following heterosexual exposure, 1992-2003].
BACKGROUND
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in Spain was characterized throughout the first few years by the predominance of infections among injected drug users (IDU's), but everything currently points to a progressive predominance of sexual transmission. This study is aimed at describing the trend in HIV infection among several heterosexual populations groups and at characterizing the situations in which the infections occurred.


METHODS
Descriptive study of the individualls who had the test conducted for the first time at nine HIV diagnosis centres within the 1992-2003 period due to high-risk heterosexual exposures, not including injected drug users.


RESULTS
A total of 47,870 individuals had serology performed during the period under study. The HIV prevalence among the population under study dropped from 3.2% to 1.0% (p< 0.001). Among the individuals with an HIV infected partners, the prevalence remained at around 10%, the male users of prostitution having dropped from 1.9% to 1.0% (p=0.049); among women involved in prostitution, from 1.4% to 0.7% (p=0.008); and among all other heterosexuals, having dropped from 1.6% to 1.0% among males (p=0.014) and from 1.1% to 0.7% among women (p=0.012).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate advances in the control of heterosexual human immunodeficiency virus transmission, mainly among women, although it is necessary to still continue stressing prevention.
Barrasa
Alicia
A
Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid. alicia@isciii.es
Jesús
Castilla
C
del Romero
Jorge
J
Pueyo
Isabel
I
de Armas
Carlos
C
Varela
José Antonio
JA
Ureña
José Manuel
JM
Bru
Francisco Javier
FJ
Ordoñana
Juan Ramón
JR
Balaguer
Jordi
J
Sáez de Vicuña
Luis María
LM
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population