HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the Czech Republic and Related Factors: Comparison of Key Populations of People who Inject Drugs and Men who Have Sex with Men
Abstrakt
BACKGROUND: The HIV epidemiological situation has worsened in the past decade in the Czech Republic. This paper analyses relevant factors from the perspective of two key populations - men who have sex with men (MSM) and people who inject drugs (PWID).
METHODS: A non-systematic literature review comparing relevant factors such as risk behaviours, preventive measures, and stigma in both populations. RESULTS: A total of 286 newly diagnosed HIV cases were reported in 2016.
Sex between men accounted for 74.5% (and has been rising recently), the proportion of PWID was only 2.4%. HIV prevalence among MSM exceeds 5% regionally (in Prague), while among PWID it is close to zero.
Sharing of injecting equipment among PWID seems to be decreasing, the trend in high-risk sexual behaviour among MSM is unknown. There is significantly higher coverage and provision of preventive measures in PWIDs as compared to MSM.
There is a lack of support for effective interventions such as post- or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP and PrEP). Destigmatisation of drug use has been a part of the drug policy for a long time, the destigmatisation of MSM has not been incorporated into the HIV prevention strategy yet.
CONCLUSION: HIV prevention in MSM should be scaled up and include state-of-the-art strategies such as PrEP and target the stigma attached to HIV and MSM.