BackgroundIn recent years there has been changes in the social and geographic profile of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the internalization of AIDS in the state of Rondônia, Brazil.FindingsIn Rondônia, 1473 AIDS cases were reported, with an average annual incidence of 15.8/100,000 persons (42.7 % women). The most common mode of viral transmission was sexual (96.5 %), and the majority of the individuals had not completed their primary education (64.8 %). There was heterogeneity in relation to case distribution, involving almost all of the municipalities in the state. The average annual mortality rate was 2.5/100,000 persons.ConclusionRondônia has a higher incidence of AIDS than the national average and the northern region. Efforts to provide access to treatment and follow-up of these individuals should be implemented, prioritizing areas where the incidence is higher and decentralizing the treatment of patients with AIDS in the state.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40249-015-0060-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.