[Epidemiology and prevention of AIDS]

Abstract

For ten years now the Aids epidemic has worried mankind. In the same time the virus has spread all over the world. Ever more people fall ill. 56,000 cases of Aids have been notified only in Europe until June 1991. Prognoses for the future are difficult to make, some areas will be strongly affected. The surveillance and epidemiology for HIV and Aids are to be expanded with reasonable means. Such knowledge will serve as basis for prevention, which in some areas and with certain groups has already shown a certain effectiveness in the last years. In Switzerland e.g., use of condoms in the age group of 17-30 with casual sexual contacts has increased from 7% (1986) to about 50% (1991). The number of sexually transmitted diseases has decreased. Solidarity is the basis for effective prevention programmes concerning Aids. Maturity of people concerning health has to be stimulated by means of information and education.