As many as 2 million people
are HIV positive, with some 1 million in Russia
- Human Costs
The ECA region is experiencing one of the fastest-growing HIV/AIDS epidemics in the world. In 2004, the number of infected people rose to an estimated 1.4 million* (UNAIDS). Around 490,000 women are currently living with HIV in the region. There were some 210,000 new infections** and some 60,000 deaths***.
- Economic Costs
An unchecked epidemic can have devastating economic consequences. A generalized epidemic, with prevalence over 1%, could reduce economic growth rates by 0.5 to 1.0 percentage points. Health expenditures could increase by 1-3 percent.
- Countries most affected
Among the diverse epidemics underway in the region, the most serious is in Ukraine, while Russia has the largest number of infected people. Several Central Asian and Caucasian republics are in the early phases of the epidemic. In South East Europe, HIV has possibly gained a foothold among high risk groups, particularly youth and Injecting drug users.
- Injecting drug use driving the epidemic Between 1.5 and 3 million Russians are believed to inject drugs .There are more than 800,000 injecting drug users in Ukraine, and up to 200,000 in Kazakhstan. Most of these drug users are male.
- Young people mostly affected
More than 80% are under 30 years of age. Condom use is generally low among this population. By contrast, in North America and Western Europe only 30% of infected people are under 30.
- Growing numbers of young women infected
The trend is most obvious where the epidemic is oldest suggesting an increase in heterosexual transmission or that more women are injecting drugs. From 1998 to 2002, infection levels among pregnant women increased from < 0.01% to 0.1% - a ten fold increase.
Source: UNAIDS and WHO, 2004
* UNAIDS bases its estimates on a range - in this instance 920,000 -2.1 million.
** Range - 110,000-480,000
*** Range - 39,000-87,000 |
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