HIV IN QATAR: World Aids Day

HIV IN QATAR

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

There is currently no effective cure. Once people get HIV, they have it for life.

But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. People with HIV who get effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners. (CDC)

How Prevalent is HIV/AIDS in Qatar?

Despite the unprecedented population growth over the last two decades, HIV/AIDS in Qatar has not been a concern given the low prevalence of the virus in the country with a steady

rate of new HIV infections diagnosed every year. Up until the year 2015 there were about 10-20 new cases reported each year. However the numbers have gone up in recent years.

As per a study done by a group of researchers in 2020 on HIV In Qatar, a total of 515 HIV cases were reported to the Ministry of Public Health since beginning of reporting in 1986, and that included Qatari nationals and expatriate residents diagnosed in Qatar. There was an increase in the annual number of newly reported HIV cases from 16 cases in 2015 (of these, 14 were males) to 58 cases in 2020 (of these, 54 were males). The total number of HIV diagnosed people on ART increased from 99 in 2015 to 213 in 2020. During 2020 the overall viral load testing coverage and viral load suppression among those tested for viral load in men were 72.5% and 93.1%, respectively, while in women these values were 60.4% and 84.4%, respectively. *

They concluded due to the increase in newly reported HIV cases, there was a need to develop an effective HIV strategic information system in Qatar and data-driven and targeted national HIV response. *

The HIV data was obtained from the MoPH case reporting registry; HIV case reporting to MoPH has been mandated since 1985. Data on patients receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) were obtained from medical records at the CDC of the HMC. *

 

* Citation

AUTHOR=Farag Elmoubashar, Bozicevic Ivana, Tartour Angham Ibrahim, Nasreldin Hiba, Daghfal Joanne, Himatt Sayed, Sallam Mohamed A., Ismail Ahmed, Al Shamali Maha, Coyle Peter V., Abdelmajid Alaaeldin, Al Mawlawi Naema, Al Thani Mohammed Hamad, Al-Romaihi Hamad Eid, Al Soub Hussam Abdel Rahman, Al Maslamani Muna, Al Khal Abdullatif

TITLE=HIV case reporting and HIV treatment outcomes in Qatar  

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health     

VOLUME=11      

YEAR=2023   

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1234585     

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1234585    

ISSN=2296-2565