Romania
Situation Analysis
Romania is home to the highest number
of pediatric HIV/AIDS cases in the European region. Since
the first AIDS case was identified in 1985, approximately
9,022 pediatric and 2,014 adult cases of HIV/AIDS have been
reported. Of the 9,022 children, 2,128 had died by March 2001.
The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Romania changed throughout the 1990s.
The epidemic peaked in 1990 via blood transfusions to institutionalized
children, but the practice was discontinued, and HIV incidence
among children had decreased dramatically by 2000. The epidemic
among children, however, masks an increasingly important HIV/AIDS
trend among adults. During the last four years, the number
of adult infections has tripled, most of which are reported
to have occurred through sexual transmission (58 percent by
heterosexual; 4.5 percent by homosexual and bisexual transmission).
While the actual number of HIV-infected children may differ
from the number reported by a factor of 2 or less, the actual
number of HIV-infected adults living in Romania may be five
to 10 times the number of reported infections.
Approximately 30 percent of known adult AIDS cases and 77
percent of known pediatric AIDS cases in Romania are attributed
to unknown causes. Although little is known about sexual behaviors
in Romania, commercial sex, trafficking of women, and homosexuality
are increasingly visible parts of the culture. Sexually transmitted
infections are also increasing rapidly, with about two-thirds
of cases being registered in urban areas. Although the number
of injecting drug users is increasing, this population accounts
for only 0.2 percent of HIV cases.
To improve the life expectancy of persons living with HIV/AIDS,
UNAIDS, together with the Ministry of Health and Family and
the private sector, initiated a partnership to negotiate reduced
drug prices for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
| Estimated Number
of Adults and Children Living with HIV/AIDS |
7,000
|
| Total Population |
22 million |
| Adult HIV Prevalence |
0.2 % |
| HIV-1 Seroprevalence
in Urban Areas |
|
 |
Population at High Risk |
0.5 % |
|
Population at Low Risk |
0 % |
|
USAID-Supported Country Programs
Social marketing
In early 2000, USAID began funding Population Services International/AIDSMark
in its social marketing campaign for safe sex and use of condoms
for HIV prevention. The organization conducted an extensive
information, education, and communication campaign, which
included spots on television and radio using the slogan "Do
what you want, but know what you are doing." Condoms
are sold nationwide at a subsidized price.
Behavior change
In recent years, USAID/Romania has funded a wide range of
innovative programs to educate persons at high risk of contracting
HIV. The Romanian Anti-AIDS Association, for example, implements
several programs that target groups such as commercial sex
workers, injecting drug users, and prisoners. The Romanian
Society for Contraceptive and Sex Education trains family
practitioners to enable them to carry out basic health care
delivery and HIV/AIDS counseling. A campaign to highlight
the risks associated with unsafe sex was implemented in summer
2001 in Black Sea resort areas by Youth for Youth in collaboration
with the Romanian Anti-AIDS Association, the Romanian Society
for Contraceptive and Sex Education, and Population Services
International/ AIDSMark.
Children affected by HIV/AIDS
In 2001, USAID awarded a small grant to the Texas Children’s
Hospital of the Baylor College of Medicine and the Constanta
Department of Health. The partnership produced the Romanian-American
Children’s Center in Constanta, which provides sustainable,
state-of-the-art care and treatment to HIV-infected children
in individual or family homes around Constanta. The center
includes an outpatient clinic, a small inpatient observation
unit, classrooms, a library, and apartments for visiting health
professionals.
Holt International, as part of a USAID project, assists parents
of children affected by HIV/AIDS through development of parent
associations aimed at strengthening ties to the community.
In addition, a grant funded by USAID and World Vision to the
Romanian Anti-AIDS Association implements awareness programs
for adolescents. In Romania, significant increases in syphilis
infection have been documented in urban areas and among students.
Since a rise in syphilis incidence is often correlated with
an increase in HIV/AIDS, an activity to educate adolescents
about condom use, HIV, and sexual activity was developed.
In conjunction with Kaiser Permanente and the Romanian Anti-AIDS
Association, USAID supports theatre productions in schools
around Bucharest to educate young people on ways to prevent
HIV transmission. As part of the South East Europe regional
initiative USAID/Romania will continue to focus upon condom
social marketing, HIV/AID/STD prevention, and targeted interventions
for adolescents.
|
|
