Testing Country Profile 2015 - Slovakia

GENERAL DATA ABOUT THE COUNTRY

Country population: 5,4 Millions

National GDP: 75 billion US dollars in 2014

EU membership: EU Member country

 

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FACTSHEET

Estimated number of PLHIV: Between 1000 and 1500

Number of registered PLHIV: 628 up to 31 December 2015

Key populations at risk identified in national prevention programs:

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

Number of patients on ARV: About 60%.

Number of new infections for the latest annual reported period: 86 (79 Slovaks + 7 foreigners) in 2015

Percentage of affected populations for the latest annual reported period:

  • Heterosexual sexual exposure 24.1 %
  • MSM sexual exposure 65.8 %
  • People who inject drugs 2.5%
  • Mother to child transmission 0
  • Other (not known) 7,6%
  • Late presenters not known, but approx. 2,5-5 %

The source for the epidemiological data: National reference centre for HIV/AIDS prevention in the cooperation with the National Institute of Public Health, Bratislava

 

TESTING PROFILE

National policy/strategy or other recommendations from your government on HIV testing: Yes

Number of VCT centers in the country: 12-14

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: Some private VCTs ask for payment for drawing bood and for  anonymous testing.  Free of charge testing is available anonymously in NRC  for HIV/AIDS prevention, in NRC and other state institutes HIV VCT is payed by health insurence companies..

Testing can legally be performed by: Medical staff, and non-medical staff with appropriate training in community settings

Testing in non-medical settings: Yes - NGO Odyseus and NGO Prima

Community based testing: Yes - till now just in 2 – NGO Odyseus and NGO Prima

Community-based checkpoints in the country: Yes - NGO Odyseus and NGO Prima

Mobile testing in the country: Yes - NGO Odyseus

Number of people tested in the last annual period: All together about 200 000 tests/year, most of them for blood/tissue donors

Number of targeted testing to key populations (if available): MSM – 400 in NRC for HIV/AIDS prevention  during the EU project SIALON II

Regular community testing for other STDs: Sometimes /NGO Odyseus  by rapid tests/

 

Reported by: assoc. prof. Danica Staneková, PhD

From organisation: NRC for HIV/AIDS prevention at the Slovak Medical University

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

Total number of registered HIV infection: 512 Slovaks + 127 foreigners were confirmed HIV-positive

Estimation of total number of people living with HIV: 1500-2000 (unofficial estimate)

Data for 2013

  • Number of people known to be living with HIV: to the end of 2013  461
  • Number of new HIV infections: 80 Slovaks + 3 foreigners
    • % Associated with mother to child transmission (MTCT): 0%
    • % Associated with heterosexual exposure: 24%
    • % Associated with people who inject drugs (PWID): 2%
    • % Associated with gay men and other MSM: 65%
    • % Other/not known: 9%
    • % Late presenters: -
    • Number of AIDS cases: 6
    • Gender (how many women/men): Male 70 , Female 10
    • Main route of transmission: Sexual transmission (%)
    • Cases of death in AIDS patients: 1
  • Number of people tested in 2013:175.063

Anything else to add about new diagnoses?; Was there more or less diagnoses than usual?; Any trends? Were there any new locations or clusters?:In 2013 there was an increase in total numbers. Most of patients are living in Bratislava. It was said to be a record number of new cases in the history of Slovakia. In 2012 it was 46 new diagnoses, in 2013 it was 83. However, there is no comparison of number of provided testing published yet (03/2014). There seem to be no changes in the trends related to locations - cities and Bratislava region remain for the highest numbers of HIV cases. Also majority of the new diagnoses remain identified within men who have sex with men. The age of HIV transmission in men decreased.

Sources for this information: