title: Late presentation to care for HIV infection in Croatia and the effect of interventions during the Croatian Global Fund Project.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS Outpatient Center, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Mirogojska 8, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia. jbegovac@bfm.hr
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Begovac
authors.forename: Kornelija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gedike
authors.forename: Davorka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lukas
authors.forename: Snjezana Zidovec
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Lepej
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017523:Croatia; D005260:Female; D005378:Financial Support; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D020010:Heterosexuality; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013997:Time Factors