A short term projection of HIV infection and AIDS cases in Cameroon

By September 1991 Cameroon had reported 650 cases of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The results from the sentinnel surveillance system showed a seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)1 of 1.3% among pregnant women, 2.5% in people attending sexually transmitted disease clinics and 3.5% in tuberculosis patients in 1990. The estimated number of persons infected with HIV varies between 10,000 and 30,000. The World Health Organization projection model was used to make a short-term projection of HIV infection and AIDS cases; it indicated that the number of persons infected with HIV will double by the year 1995, with an estimated 8500 AIDS cases. Even in a low prevalence country such as Cameroon, the impact of the HIV epidemic is important and will result in a burden for the health care system.