Prevalence of HIV infection among injecting drug users in the Siberian Federal District

Objective. To analyze the prevalence and incidence of HIV infection among injecting drug users (IDUs) in the regions of the Siberian Federal District (SFD). Materials and methods. The authors analyzed the data available in Federal State Statistical Monitoring Forms No. 2, No. 4, and No. 61; the data of the Departmental Monitoring Form of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being; personalized data on all HIV infection cases detected in 1987-2019 in the regions of the SFD; and data from publications on the prevalence of HIV infection and parenteral hepatitis among IDUs who were followed up in narcological facilities. Results. As of December 31, 2020, a total of304,092people were diagnosed with HIV infection in the SFD; 76,568of them died. In 2018-2020, the highest rates of HIV infection and mortality in the Russian Federation were registered in the SFD: in 2020, the incidence rate was 78.0 per 100,000 population, which was almost twice the national average. Seven out of10 regions in the SFD had the highest rates of HIV infection in Russia. The proportion of IDUs among those tested for HIV remains low, but testing for HIV among drug users in the SFD revealed that HIV infection was detected 6 times more often than the average among the Russians. The narcological service data showed that in 2019 there were 41.3% of IDUs who were infected with HIV and 58% with hepatitis C. The risky sexual behavior of IDUs contributed to the active spread of sexually transmitted HIV infection. Conclusion. In 2020, the most difficult HIV epidemic situation developed in both the country and the SFD. In the whole SFD and in its 6 regions, there was a generalized HIV epidemic according to the WHO classification. In the SFD, the IDUs involved in the transmission of the infection both asexually and sexually have made their main contribution to the development of the epidemic in the last decade. The primary task of counteracting the HIV epidemic in the SFD is to ensure effective work in preventing, diagnosing, and treating this disease among IDUs and the general population.

HIV infection, morbidity, incidence, injecting drug users, Siberian Federal District