**4.3 HIV prevalence**

218 Epidemiology Insights

19.1 22.2 35.1 31.3 30.2 29.8 45.7 39.7 64.3 52.5 60.2 57.4

Prague Bratislava Barcelona Bucharest Ljubljana Verona

Fig. 6. UNGASS indicator N. 19: MSM reporting the use of a condom the last time they had

The UNGASS 23 refers to the HIV prevalence in a specific population, representing therefore the main indicator. This indicator allows to directly assess improvement in containing HIV levels among most-at-risk, namely MSM. In this case, the prevalence was

2.6 6.0 17.0 4.6 5.1 11.8

Prague Bratislava Barcelona Bucharest Ljubljana Verona Country

anal sex with a male partner in the last 6 months: steady and occasional partners.

calculated from the oral fluid tests performed in the central laboratory (Fig. 7).

UNGASS 19 steady partner UNGASS 19 casual partner

**4.2.4 UNGASS indicator N°23** 

0

Fig. 7. UNGASS indicator N. 23 HIV prevalence

10

20

%

30

%

As reported in the UNGASS 23, data regarding HIV prevalence levels were calculated through the oral fluid samples tests. As mentioned before, the cities with the highest HIV prevalence were Barcelona (17.0%) and Verona (11.8%). Lower percentages were reported in Bratislava (6.0%), Bucharest (4.6%) and Ljubljana (5.1%). Prague had the lowest HIV prevalence (2.6%). The overall prevalence of HIV positive oral fluid samples was 7.9%. Previous studies carried out in some of the participating cities, came to quite different prevalence estimates. For instance, in Barcelona HIV prevalence found in previous studies using a convenience sample was slightly higher than the prevalence found in the SIALON study. The lower levels reported in Ljubljana and Bratislava in previous studies may be partly due to the different sampling method adopted and lower number of MSM recruited in the study.
