Prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of HIV infection in Paraguay: A descriptive study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21781091Keywords:
HIV, epidemiology, Paraguay, prevalence, epidemiological surveillance, public healthAbstract
Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a global and regional public health problem, with a particular epidemiological dynamic in Paraguay that requires updated characterization. Objective: To describe the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of new HIV diagnoses in Paraguay between January and August 2023, based on records from the National HIV/AIDS-STI Control Program (PRONASIDA). Materials and methods: Observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study based on the PRONASIDA administrative registry. All persons with a positive HIV diagnosis recorded between January and August 2023 (996 persons) were included, out of a total of 137,213 persons tested in the same period. Records with incomplete information and negative tests were excluded. Variables analyzed were: new diagnoses by month, distribution by age group, by sex and by department of residence. The protocol was submitted to PRONASIDA authorities and approved; data were handled with codes to protect privacy, and informed consent was not required because this was a descriptive study of existing records without direct patient contact. Results: A total of 996 new HIV diagnoses were recorded, with a monthly mean of 124.5 cases (minimum 91 in February, maximum 160 in August). The highest concentration of cases was observed among those aged 20–29 years (401 cases; 40.3%). Men accounted for 76.1% of new diagnoses (758/996) versus 23.9% in women (238/996), with male predominance in all age groups except those under 4 years. Central department concentrated the largest proportion of cases (39.3%), followed by Capital (23.1%) and Alto Paraná (10.4%). Conclusions: During the study period, HIV in Paraguay disproportionately affected men and young adults aged 20–29 years, with a marked geographic concentration in Central department and the Capital. These descriptive findings identify priority groups and areas for prevention and detection strategies, without allowing causal inferences given the study design.
Downloads
References
1. Abdulghani N, González Ortega E, Manzardo C, Casanova JM, Pericás JM. Infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). Síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida. FMC. 2020;27(3):63-74. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fmc.2020.03.008
2. Kuhn NC, Rampinelli IT, Nuerberg MS, Orben SA, Taddeo SGB. Perfil epidemiológico de pacientes coinfectados pelo HIV e sífilis. REMS. 2020;1(3):55. Disponible en: https://editoraime.com.br/revistas/index.php/rems/article/view/431
3. Souza Júnior EV, Cruz DP, Caricchio GMN, Jesus MAS, Boery RNS, Boery EN. Epidemiological aspects of morbimortality due human immunodeficiency virus in the brazilian northeast. Rev Pesqui Cuid Fundam Online. 2021:144-9. doi: https://doi.org/10.9789/2175-5361.rpcfo.v13.8025
4. Aguilar G, Kawabata A, Samudio T, Ríos-González CM. Comportamiento epidemiológico del VIH en Paraguay, 2017. Rev Salud Publica Parag. 2018;8(2):9-14. Disponible en: http://scielo.iics.una.py/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2307-33492018000200009
5. Aguilar G. Poner fin a la epidemia de sida en Paraguay para 2030 - ¿Quo vadis? An Univ Nac Asunción. 2022;55(2):13-7. Disponible en: http://scielo.iics.una.py/scielo.php?pid=S1816-89492022000200013&script=sci_arttext
6. Aguilar G, Ríos-González CM, Samudio T. Características epidemiológicas de la infección por VIH en Paraguay durante el año 2015. Rev Chil Infectol. 2017;34(4):415-416. doi: https://doi.org/10.4067/s0716-10182017000400415
7. Aguilar G, Samudio T, Galvis López G, Jiménez L, Wilson EC, McFarland W, et al. Alta prevalencia del VIH entre mujeres transgénero en Paraguay. Int J STD AIDS. 2020;31(13):1308-14. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0956462420945550
8. Panaifo A, Ronal J. Seroprevalencia del virus de inmunodeficiencia humana en pacientes que acuden a servicios médicos generales San Juan SRL de enero a diciembre del 2022 [tesis]. Iquitos: Universidad Científica del Perú; 2023.
9. Kerr LRFS, Kendall C, Guimarães MDC, et al. HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men in Brazil. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(1S):S9-S15. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000010573
10. Pitpitan EV, Goodman-Meza D, Burgos JL, et al. Prevalence and correlates of HIV among men who have sex with men in Tijuana, Mexico. J Int AIDS Soc. 2015;18(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.7448/ias.18.1.19304
11. Cáceres CF, Konda KA, Klausner JD. Syphilis in men who have sex with men: advancing research and human rights. Lancet Glob Health. 2021;9(8):e1039-e1040. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(21)00269-2
12. Assaf RD, Konda KA, Torres TS, et al. Are men who have sex with men at higher risk for HIV in Latin America more aware of PrEP? PLoS One. 2021;16(8):e0255557. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255557
13. Ramírez-Soto MC, Arroyo-Hernández H. Changes in HIV incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-22) compared with the pre-pandemic period (2015-19) in Peru: an observational study. PLoS One. 2025;20(6):e0324784. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324784
14. Chow EPF, Ong JJ, Denham I, et al. HIV testing and diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Melbourne, Australia. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2021;86(4):e114-e115. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/qai.0000000000002604
15. Marty L, Cazein F, Panjo H, et al. Revealing geographical and population heterogeneity in HIV incidence, undiagnosed HIV prevalence and time to diagnosis to improve prevention and care: estimates for France. J Int AIDS Soc. 2018;21(3). doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/jia2.25100
16. Rosenberg ES, Grey JA, Sanchez T, et al. Rates of prevalent HIV infection, prevalent diagnoses, and new diagnoses among men who have sex with men in US states, metropolitan statistical areas, and counties, 2012-2013. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2016;2(1):e22. doi: https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.5684
17. Wang Y, Yang Y, Shi X, et al. The spatial distribution pattern of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome in China. Geospat Health. 2016;11(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.4081/gh.2016.414
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Claudia Vieira Guillén, Beatriz del Rocío Quintana López (Autor/a)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Los artículos publicados en la Revista UniNorte de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud se distribuyen bajo una licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0).
Esta licencia permite a cualquier usuario copiar, distribuir, adaptar, transformar y construir a partir del material para cualquier propósito, incluso comercial, siempre que se otorgue el crédito adecuado a los autores y a la fuente original de publicación.
Los autores conservan los derechos de autor y otorgan a la revista el derecho de primera publicación.
La reutilización del contenido deberá reconocer la autoría, citar la fuente original e indicar si se han realizado modificaciones.
