[The HIV-epidemic among homosexual men in Norway]

Up to 1996, 592 men had been reported as having homosexually acquired HIV infection in Norway (population 4.3 million). 295 of these had developed AIDS and 242 had died from AIDS. Although HIV testing is common practice among homosexual men in Norway, we estimate that 100-200 HIV infected homosexual men have not been diagnosed as yet. HIV spread rapidly among homosexuals in Norway in the early 1980s. The annual incidence peaked in 1985, at 70-100 cases, and has since remained at 40-50. In our opinion the initial decrease in incidence was due mainly to dissemination of information by the gay community itself, led by pioneering gay health workers. The stable incidence during the last decade is disappointing, however, considering the vast resources used for prevention. A major challenge in HIV prevention in Norway towards the year 2000 is to bring down the incidence among homosexual men.