Human immunodeficiency virus notifications for aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders in Queensland.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the epidemiology of HIV infection based on notifications of HIV infection in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland and to review their implications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

DESIGN

Descriptive study of data obtained through HIV notifications to the AIDS Medical Unit, Specialised Health Services, Queensland Health from 1 July 1985 to 31 August 1991.

SUBJECTS

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Queensland.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classification of HIV infection, as at 31 August 1991.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine individuals identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander were notified as positive for HIV antibodies in the period 1 July 1985 to 31 August 1991. Of those diagnosed, three were female and 26 male. At 31 August 1991, only 10 were asymptomatic (CDC Group II, III), eight were symptomatic (AIDS-related complex) and 11 were diagnosed as having AIDS. Seven of those with a diagnosis of AIDS had died by the end of the study period. By comparison, 1158 non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people were notified for the same time period. Of these, 48 were female, 1105 were male and five were transsexual. In the non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander group, 633 were asymptomatic and 297 were diagnosed with AIDS. By the end of the study period, 228 had died.

CONCLUSIONS

The data show an estimated prevalence of diagnosed HIV infection in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland comparable with the rest of the population. Cases are distributed throughout the State, though some clustering is evident. There has been a stable pattern of notifications over the past five years. The proportion of asymptomatic (CDC groups II, III) HIV-positive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients was significantly lower than for the non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander group. These data have implications in terms of projections of total cases, diagnosed and undiagnosed, and relative access to the advantages attending early diagnosis.