While HIV/AIDS is decreasing in the West, it is on the rise in Turkey!

According to research conducted by Specialist Dr. Okan Derin from the HIV Working Group of the Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (KLİMİK) and published in the international medical journal Medicina, HIV infection is on the rise in Turkey, especially among the young population and women.

Pointing out that despite a global decrease in newly emerging HIV cases, a contrary increase has been observed in regions including Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and South America, as well as Turkey, Dr. Derin stated that according to his study, the increase in the country is higher, particularly among young people aged 15-24 and women over 40.

Dr. Derin emphasized that, according to studies, individuals who engage in transactional sex through meetings arranged via social media are also in a high-risk group for HIV because they do not undergo regular health screenings.

Dr. Okan Derin from the KLİMİK HIV Working Group, who attended the 1st Viral Infections and Immunization Symposium held by KLİMİK in Istanbul last month, stated that we have not yet reached the desired level in our country regarding methods of protection against HIV, which is perhaps the most well-known of sexually transmitted infections. Based on data from the Global Burden of Disease study, Dr. Derin noted in his research—the results of which were published in the international medical journal Medicina in August—that despite a global decrease in the number of newly emerging HIV cases, the rate of HIV increase in Turkey, especially among the young population, is alarming.

According to the study, although HIV infection is more common in men across all age groups, a significant increase has been observed in women over 40 over the years. Furthermore, the rate of increase is higher in our country, especially among young people aged 15-24. The rates of increase among women have also shown a significant rise since 2008.

THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE YOUNG AGE GROUP AND WOMEN OVER 40

Dr. Okan Derin said, “The World Health Organization has shown a decrease in HIV incidence, that is, the number of new cases of HIV, worldwide since 2010. This decrease was around 39 percent. However, there was a contrary increase in the South America, Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe regions. I took the publicly available data from the Global Burden of Disease study to evaluate the situation in Turkey and examined it with some advanced epidemiological analysis methods. In fact, there is a reality that physicians who clinically follow HIV also observe. This is the decrease in the average age of people infected with HIV or the increase in women. With this study, we have scientifically proven this clinical observation of ours. In other words, we have revealed that the increase in new cases is more pronounced in this age group. According to our study, the increase is higher in young people between the ages of 15 and 24. At the same time, when we evaluated by gender, we saw that the increase in women was higher.”

WOMEN DO NOT PRIORITIZE PROTECTION AFTER MENOPAUSE

Noting that the increase in HIV in women, especially after menopause, is a known fact globally, Dr. Derin said, “There are various factors for this. When we look at publications worldwide, reasons such as the lack of education on reproductive health and sexually transmitted diseases in the young age group, or certain sociodemographic changes, may lead to this picture, while for women over 50, reasons such as perhaps less use of precautions against sexually transmitted infections stand out in the publications.”

“REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION MUST RETURN TO SCHOOLS”

Emphasizing that the most important factor in this increase in the young age group in our country is the lack of education on reproductive health among young people in this age group, Dr. Derin said: “According to the sources I can access in Turkey, there was education on reproductive health in schools between 1974 and 2023. However, there are publications stating that these trainings were discontinued after 2003. I added this information as a reference in the article I wrote. It is obvious that there is a need for such training in high schools or universities. If you ask why I say this, many studies conducted among university students in Turkey have emphasized the importance of the lack of knowledge among students regarding sexually transmitted diseases.”

UNREGISTERED INDIVIDUALS HAVE REACHED 10 TIMES THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED ONES

Dr. Derin pointed out that since individuals living with HIV continue to be infectious when they reach treatment late, they also pose a risk to other individuals. Dr. Derin also made important warnings regarding individuals who "engage in transactional sex," who are at the forefront of the high-risk group for HIV. Pointing out that these individuals, who should normally be legally registered, would have regular health screenings thanks to this, Dr. Derin emphasized that one of the most important reasons for the increase in the unregistered population is that individuals engage in "transactional" relationships through meetings made using social media. Dr. Derin continued his words as follows: “According to studies conducted in Turkey (I also showed this as a reference in my article), the rate of those who are unregistered has reached up to 10 times that of those who are registered, which is 2016-2017 data. There is no subsequent data. I think that this type of transmission method is important and that this segment must definitely be made aware of health screenings.”

“EARLY DIAGNOSIS ALSO PREVENTS TRANSMISSIBILITY, ANONYMOUS TESTING CENTERS SHOULD INCREASE”

Pointing out that while HIV was once a disease where early death was definitely expected, thanks to treatments, there is no longer any shortening of life expectancy due to HIV, Dr. Derin said that it is very important for people who think they are in a risk group to have access to tests. Stating that HIV can now be completely controlled, Dr. Derin emphasized that HIV infection has now become a chronic condition and that individuals living with HIV are no longer accepted as patients.

Dr. Derin stated that anonymous testing centers are very important for this reason and concluded his words as follows: “Under medication, the viral load, which we call the amount of virus in the blood, is brought to zero in these people. In other words, the virus can become undetectable in the blood thanks to treatment. For this reason, their sexual transmissibility also disappears. In this respect, it is very important to conduct education and screening tests in these groups, and to plan screening tests anonymously. Especially the fact that people can give their blood and have their tests done without registering with their real names in any way at anonymous centers, and then seek health services according to the result, also allows for early diagnosis. Thus, these individuals, who can access medication treatment completely free of charge, are no longer at risk of transmitting the virus. Anonymous centers are currently provided by some municipalities in Turkey. Such as Şişli Municipality, Beşiktaş Municipality. I think there are also some in Ankara and Izmir.”