Characteristics of HIV seroprevalence of visitors to public health centers under the national HIV surveillance system in Korea: cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: In Korea, the cumulative number of HIV-infected individuals was smaller than those of other countries. Mandatory HIV tests, dominating method until 1990's, have been gradually changed to voluntary HIV tests. We investigated HIV seroprevalence status and its characteristics of visitors to Public Health Centers (PHCs), which conducted both mandatory test and voluntary test under the national HIV/ STI surveillance program.

Prevalence and associated clinical characteristics of hepatitis B, C, and HIV infections among injecting drug users in Korea

“…This is in line with the previous survey that documented no HIV infection among studied drug users and chronic alcoholics in Korea [Kim and Choo, 1996]. The fact that the prevalence of HIV seems to have remained low in the Korean general population compared to that of other countries [Lee et al, 2010] and that sexual contact, rather than injecting drug use has seemed to be the major mode of HIV transmission in Korea [Kim et al, 2003;Kee et al, 2009] might have contributed to the negative result in the present study. Among HIVinfected individuals tested at public health centers, heterosexual and homosexual contacts accounted for more than 99% of HIV transmission [Kee et al, 2009].…”

“…The fact that the prevalence of HIV seems to have remained low in the Korean general population compared to that of other countries [Lee et al, 2010] and that sexual contact, rather than injecting drug use has seemed to be the major mode of HIV transmission in Korea [Kim et al, 2003;Kee et al, 2009] might have contributed to the negative result in the present study. Among HIVinfected individuals tested at public health centers, heterosexual and homosexual contacts accounted for more than 99% of HIV transmission [Kee et al, 2009]. In addition, the limitation in representativeness of participated injecting drug users is duly considered.…”

“…Third, risk behaviors related to unsafe sex and other environmental contributors for blood-borne infections [Strathdee et al, 2010] were not fully assessed and controlled. Although transmission of HCV by sexual exposure is much less than the transmission by injecting drug use [Shepard et al, 2005], transmission by sexual exposure is the main route for HIV [Kee et al, 2009].…”

Late presentation of HIV disease and its associated factors among newly diagnosed patients before and after abolition of a government policy of mass mandatory screening

“…The mandatory test was carried out on commercial sex workers, prison inmates, overseas sailors, hair salon employees, and food industry sanitation workers. 9 Because of human rights issues, government policy changed around 2000; compulsory testing was minimized, and instead, voluntary testing in hospitals and anonymous testing at public health centers were encouraged. 8 However, there were many obstacles to seeking voluntary HIV testing such as low-risk perception, low accessibility of health services, and fear of the negative social consequences of a positive diagnosis (stigma, discrimination, rejection).…”

“…The target population for compulsory HIV testing was minimized and voluntary testing at hospitals and anonymous testing at public health centers were encouraged. 8,9 In addition, following the AIDS Prevention Act, the government has provided HIV-infected patients in Korea with free medical care since 1987, including highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which was introduced in mid-1998. 10 Most previous studies of late presenters of HIV disease have been conducted in Western industrialized countries, 11e18 where mandatory screening for HIV has not been carried out.…”