An observational study of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Malta

Abstract

An observational study was carried out comparing the HIV/ AIDS epidemic in Malta to that in South Glamorgan between 1984 and 1992. In both locations the important routes of transmission were use of contaminated blood products and unprotected sex. In both Malta and South Glamorgan 21 AIDS cases had died. The average time of survival from testing HIV positive and death in both locations was 28 months for those who had acquired the virus through blood products. However, for sexually acquired HIV, the average survival in Malta of 9 months contrasted with 33 months in South Glamorgan. Medical care was comparable so this fourfold difference in survival was likely to be due to later presentation of sexually acquired HIV cases in Malta. An HIV knowledge and behaviour survey of young Maltese in a local nightclub found that despite 90% of those questioned knowing that it was possible to contract HIV through unprotected sex, 36% of sexually active men questioned never used a condom.