[Spreading of HIV infection and syphilis in Poland in 1988-1998].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the epidemiological threat of HIV infection and early syphilis (es) in Poland with regard to the principal modes of HIV transmission and the relationship between HIV and es in 1988-98.

METHODS

We analyzed es incidence rates and newly notified HIV cases and their trends in four regions: East (E), South (S), West (W) and Central (C); proportion of injecting drug users (IDUs), men who have sex with men (MSM), and persons of unknown mode of HIV transmission (UMTPs) among reported HIV infections and correlation between HIV infection and es incidence rates.

RESULTS

HIV infection notification rate curves in four regions were two-phase: since 1988 they were parabolic with the highest values in 1989-90 and the lowest in 1993-95, then they had increasing trends in four regions. Proportion of MSM was the highest (> 10% among HIV+) in C till 1996, since 1993 it increased in E, W and S. Proportion of IDUs was 80% in late 80s, then decreased (50-60% in 1993) and rose in E, S and C since 1993. Proportion of UMHTs was inversely correlated to the percentage of IDUs in E, W and C and increased in W and C since 1993. In the analysed period es incidence rate slightly increased only in E and positively correlated to HIV incidence in this region.

CONCLUSIONS

IDUs in Poland may constitute a 'core group' contributing to the spread of HIV together with other sexually transmitted infections from former USSR. Increasing number of UMTPs makes the epidemiological situation of HIV infection difficult to evaluate.