HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections in Lithuania

Abstract

Lithuania is a small country with a population of 3.7 million. It has recently been released from the yoke of Soviet rule. HIV infection was first identified in 1988 and while the numbers of cases are small, the incidence is beginning to rise precipitously. A National AIDS Centre has been established in the capital, Vilnius, and a nationwide epidemiological survey is underway. Efforts are being made to prevent HIV infection. Sixty one per cent of notified cases of HIV infection are in Klaipéda, a port city adjacent to the Kaliningrad region and the predominant mode of transmission is by intravenous drug use. The majority of cases of AIDS, however, are seen in Vilnius. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are poorly controlled and there is no national control strategy. While the incidence of gonorrhoea is declining, new cases of syphilis have been on the increase, reaching 101.4 cases per 100,000 of the population. Cases of congenital syphilis are still seen.

PIP: This paper examines the incidence of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases in Lithuania. HIV infection was first identified in 1988, and while the numbers of cases are small, the incidence is beginning to rise rapidly. The National AIDS Center has been established in the capital, Vilnius, and a national epidemiological survey is underway. Cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV infection, as well as AIDS, are officially notified in Lithuania. There are about 120 male individuals infected with HIV, 21 of which have AIDS; about 8 have died. 45% of infections originated from intravenous drug users, 25% were acquired heterosexually, and 22% were acquired homosexually/bisexually. Disease counseling, conducted by the Lithuanian AIDS Center, has been set up to provide services to prostitutes. Other sexually transmitted infections in the country are syphilis and gonorrhea. It is concluded that laboratory services in Lithuania require further development, including the use of antibiotic resistance testing and more widespread introduction of molecular diagnostic techniques. Public education on STIs, including HIV infection, also needs to be further developed.