Testing Country Profile in 2015 - Montenegro

GENERAL DATA ABOUT THE COUNTRY

Country population: 621383

National GDP: 4.583 billion US dollars

EU membership: Not an EU member country

 

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FACTSHEET

Estimated number of PLHIV: N/A

Number of registered PLHIV:  175

Key populations at risk identified in national prevention programs:

  • Men who have sex with men
  • Intravenous drug users
  • Sex workers
  • Prisoners
  • Sailors

Number of patients on ARV: 85

Number of new infections for the latest annual reported period: 19 new infections in 2014

Percentage of affected populations for the latest annual reported period:

  • Heterosexual sexual exposure 23%
  • MSM sexual exposure 68%
  • Other (not known) 11%

The source for the epidemiological data: Register for HIV in the Institute for public health and Clinic for infectious diseases

 

TESTING PROFILE

National policy/strategy or other recommendations from your government on HIV testing: No

Number of VCT centers in the country: 8

Availability of anonymous/confidential HIV tests: Yes

Availability of pre- or post- testing counseling: Yes

Testing is free for anyone who wishes to get tested: Yes, free testing is available in the entire country at the VCT centers.

Testing can legally be performed by: Medical staff only

Testing in non-medical settings: No

Community based testing: No

Community-based checkpoints in the country: No

Mobile testing in the country: Yes

Number of people tested in the last annual period: 22141 tested in 2014 in total, while 1321 is number of people tested in the VCT centers

Number of targeted testing to key populations (if available): approximately 18% of 1321 which were tested in the VCT centers

Regular community testing for other STDs: No

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Reported by: Aleksandra Marjanović

From organisation: Montenegro HIV foundation

 

 

Brief report regarding new HIV cases in NeLP countries in 2013 - Montenegro

Estimation of total number of people living with HIV: unofficial estimation: 500-600

Data for 2013

  • Number of people known to be living with HIV: 153 (cumulative number). Current number of PLHIV is114.
  • Number of new HIV infections: 10
  • % Associated with mother to child transmission (MTCT): 0%
    • % Associated with heterosexual exposure: 10%
    • % Associated with people who inject drugs (PWID): 0%
    • % Associated with gay men and other MSM: 60%
    • % Other/not known: 30%
    • % Late presenters: 70%
    • Number of AIDS cases: 5
    • Gender: Male 10, Female 1
    • Main route of transmission: sexual transmission (3 reported MSM)
    • Cases of death in AIDS patients: 1 

Additional information:

  • One baby has been born of parents who are HIV positive but the delivery did not take place in Montenegro, because of distrust of patients.
  • There is still no institutionalized form of psychological assistance for PLHIV and their families and partners.
  • Analysis of PCR and CD4 are made to IPH and the treatment is carried out in the framework of the Infectious Diseases Clinic. Only two doctors have the responsibility to cure and writing prescriptions.
  • The Department for HIV has one room with two beds.
  • It is still a high degree of stigma, but there are not reported cases of discrimination.
  • Number of people tested in the latest year reported:According to the Institute of Public Health in 2013.'s 22.839 HIV tested person (without testing for research purposes in which it was tested 403 members of the RA population, Podgorica, Bar, Tivat and Niksic). Of the total number tested, 20.437 persons have been tested in transfusion units (15.869 blood donors, new donors, and 4.699), 1.375 persons were tested at the Centre for Medical Microbiology, Institute of Public Health, and 1.027 people were tested in the counseling for confidential counseling and testing (VCT). Data on the number of people tested for HIV in the private laboratory facilities in Montenegro does not exist.

Anything else to add about new diagnoses?; Was there more or less diagnoses than usual?; Any trends? Were there any new locations or clusters?: Typical number, usually more men and more frequent occurrence of late presenters. The average annual rate of 7 to 12 newly infected. Noticeable trend of new cases among the MSM population

Sources for this information:  Annual Report on HIV/AIDS, the Public Health Institute of Montenegro, 2013