Epidemiology of HIV, programmatic progress and gaps in last 10 years in Nepal

Type Journal Article - Journal of Virus Eradication
Title Epidemiology of HIV, programmatic progress and gaps in last 10 years in Nepal
Author(s)
Volume 2
Issue Suppl 4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2016
Page numbers 35-40
URL http://searo.who.int/entity/hiv/data/si-hivaids.pdf#page=39
Abstract
Background and objectives: Nepal has made progress with the control of HIV infection in recent years. There have
been changes in epidemiology, programme interventions in different population groups, and changes in policies over
the last 10 years, particularly in diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, this review was conducted to identify the effectiveness
of different interventions/policies in different sub-populations at risk, targeted towards epidemiology and treatment outcomes
for those with HIV infection in Nepal.
Methods: This review was prepared based on a review of published and unpublished documents from the Nepalese HIV
infection control programme, published articles in different journals, different survey reports including integrated
bio-behavioural surveillance (IBBS) survey reports.
Results: The prevalence of HIV infection among adults in 2014 was 0.20% with a progressive decreasing trend from
2005. The prevalence of HIV infection among injecting drug users (51.7% in 2005 and 6.4% in 2015 in Kathmandu valley)
was relatively high in all years as compared to other risk groups. HIV infection prevalence among women attending antenatal
clinics was higher in the year 2006 (0.25%) but there was a decreasing trend in the following years to 2015, when prevalence
was 0.077%. Although different interventions were conducted to cover key populations at risk, the coverage in some risk
population was very low. HIV testing status among the general population was very low (7.5% among males and 2.9%
among females) in 2011. Only one-third of HIV-infected individuals were on ART in 2015, although this proportion has
increased since 2005. The share of domestic budget among the total expenditure on HIV control program is below 15%.
Conclusions: There is the need for implementation of control programmes more efficiently and effectively with expanding
geographical and population coverage. Surveillance systems should be strengthened to get up-to-date information for
evidence-based planning and developing strategies. The domestic budget for HIV control programme should be increased
to improve their sustainability.

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