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Prevalence of HIV-1 infection in 18 year old men in Tuscany. The Toscana Collaborative Group
F Mazzotta1, M Di Pietro, E Balocchini
1Divisione di Malattie Infettive, Ospedale S M Annunziata, Firenze, Italy.
Background:
The main route of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is sexual contact. A high proportion of young adults is exposed to this mode of transmission. Therefore it is important to assess the level of HIV-1 prevalence among 18 year olds in Italy.
Methods:
Available blood samples taken at the physical examination of the military draft visit in Tuscany, Italy, have been tested in an anonymous unlinked fashion for HIV-1 infection in 1990 and 1991.
Results:
In the 2 years, 4478 and 4959 men were tested, respectively, representing 91.7% of all subjects included in the draft lists. Prevalence of HIV-1 infection was 1.12 per 1000 (95%CI: 0.36-2.61 per 1000) in 1990 and 0.20 per 1000 (95% CI: 0.01-1.12) in 1991.
Conclusions:
Prevalence of HIV-1 infection in the 18 year old male population in Tuscany is close to or below 1/1000. Evidence of the presence of HIV-1 infection in this population should prompt the implementation of adequate prevention programmes among adolescents.