[HIV/AIDS in adolescence, Cuba, 1987 to April 2004: an epidemiological approach]

A descriptive study was carried out in Cuba to characterize the epidemiological behavior of HIV/AIDS in adolescence (10-19 years) from 1987(report to the first cases) to April 2004. The universe was made up of 593 diagnosed cases; absolute frequencies, percentages and incidence/detection rates per 1,000,000 adolescents were estimated. Three hundred and sixteen cases (53.3%) were asymptomatic and 277 developed AIDS; 148 died, 590 of these cases were sexually infested. The average incidence rates in the 1999-2003 period were higher in Havana city and the municipality Isle of Youth with 9.2 and 13.1% per 1000,000 adolescents respectively. At the closing of 2003, City of Havana, Villa Clara and Cienfuegos exhibited the highest detection rates for both sexes, from 10 to 23.5 cases per 1,000,000 adolescents. The main way of transmission was sexual. City of Havana showed the highest incidence and detection rates of the country accompanied by Isle of Youth municipality in the 1999-2003 period, and followed by Villa Clara and Cienfuegos provinces in detection rates up to 2003.