AIDS/HIV mortality in Portugal in the 90s

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to identify factors which influence AIDS/HIV mortality in Portugal from 1995 to 1999, and to reveal some limitations in the social and health policies, which may explain its first place in the western European countries ranking. We used national mortality data for the period 1995-1999 and social and economic variables. SMR (standardized mortality rates) for acquired immunodeficiency diseases (AIDS) and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) for the period 1995-1999, factor analysis and cluster analysis were used. The influence of social and economic factors, urbanization and migration were examined in twenty-eight sub-regions in Portugal mainland. The results suggest four main issues: (1) geographical distribution of HIV/AIDS varies with gender. For men, mortality is concentrated in highly urbanised and immigration areas, specifically in the sub-regions of Lisbon and Porto. For women, one can observe HIV diffusion in the inland, along the main routes to Spain (border regions); (2) Portugal has the highest incidence rates and the highest number of cases of HIV-2 infected cases in the European countries; (3) Greater Lisbon is the main area for the African immigrant population and TB SMR; (4) Portugal has registered a rapid growth in the epidemic in recent years, mainly among intravenous drug users and heterosexuals. Policies have not taken into account some fundamental components of the prevention of the diseases (HIV/AIDS and TB), standard of living and well-being and universal and timely access to health care, especially for highly mobile groups and their partners, and for intravenous drug users.