Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Human immunodeficiency virus notifications for aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders in Queensland.
Med J Aust. 1993 Feb 1;158(3):155-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/93196521 Neilsen G; Hill PS; AIDS Medical Unit, Specialised Health Services, Brisbane, Qld.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of HIV infection based on notifications of HIV infection in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland and to review their implications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. DESIGN: Descriptive study of data obtained through HIV notifications to the AIDS Medical Unit, Specialised Health Services, Queensland Health from 1 July 1985 to 31 August 1991. SUBJECTS: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Queensland. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classification of HIV infection, as at 31 August 1991. RESULTS: Twenty-nine individuals identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander were notified as positive for HIV antibodies in the period 1 July 1985 to 31 August 1991. Of those diagnosed, three were female and 26 male. At 31 August 1991, only 10 were asymptomatic (CDC Group II, III), eight were symptomatic (AIDS-related complex) and 11 were diagnosed as having AIDS. Seven of those with a diagnosis of AIDS had died by the end of the study period. By comparison, 1158 non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people were notified for the same time period. Of these, 48 were female, 1105 were male and five were transsexual. In the non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander group, 633 were asymptomatic and 297 were diagnosed with AIDS. By the end of the study period, 228 had died. CONCLUSIONS: The data show an estimated prevalence of diagnosed HIV infection in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland comparable with the rest of the population. Cases are distributed throughout the State, though some clustering is evident. There has been a stable pattern of notifications over the past five years. The proportion of asymptomatic (CDC groups II, III) HIV-positive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients was significantly lower than for the non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander group. These data have implications in terms of projections of total cases, diagnosed and undiagnosed, and relative access to the advantages attending early diagnosis.
Keywords: *Aborigines Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Comparative Study Female Human HIV Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION HIV Seropositivity/EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Male Prevalence Public Health Queensland/EPIDEMIOLOGY Registries JOURNAL ARTICLE 930630
M9360361
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
