HIV-1 in Pakistan: Where we stand? Where we will go?

Abstract

Adherence to Islamic beliefs and being home to more than 190 million Muslims made many to believe that Pakistan was protected from human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). More than 30 years of HIV-1 epidemic, the reality is totally different now. HIV/AIDS is not only becoming a major health concern of Pakistan, but also in several other Muslim-majority countries like Malaysia, Iran and Indonesia having prevalence rates of 0·4%, 0·2% and 0·3%, respectively. While in most parts of the world, HIV-1 infections have decreased or stabilised. However, the countries where HIV-1 prevalence is increased by 25-35% has Muslim majority. The high-risk populations in these countries are drug users and immoral sexual behaviours that include practices forbidden in Islam.

Keywords: HIV-1, AIDS, IDUs, cART, Epidemiology..