Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Agence France Presse (12.15.04) - Thursday, December 16, 2004
Daniel Silva
Portugal's HIV incidence rate of 228.4 cases per 1 million people in 2003 is the EU's highest. Officials attribute the HIV spike among older people to a more active sex life due to anti-impotence drugs, a belief that HIV is a youth problem, and low condom use by a group unconcerned with pregnancy. "Prevention strategies up to now were not thought of to take into account of people in this age group. This has to change," said Paulo Nossa, director of Portugal's National Commission Against AIDS.
Older adults are also the least informed about HIV, research has found. Older Portuguese share a widespread perception that HIV is a disease of IV drug users, who accounted for nearly half of Portugal's 25,000 estimated cumulative HIV cases at the end of June. But needle-exchange programs have stopped HIV's increase among drug users. HIV's spread is increasingly through sexual contact.
Health officials said that of HIV infections in those over 50, virtually all were sexually acquired; and about three-quarters were men, some of whom contracted HIV from IV-drug using sex workers. Nearly all infected women over 50 contracted HIV sexually through their husband, said officials. The health ministry is planning to retool its public education campaigns to target different groups, including those over age 50.
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