BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to determine the clinical characteristics on arrival and the subsequent clinical outcome of HIV-infected UN quota refugees who settled in New Zealand during the last 11 years and to estimate their rate of HIV transmission. METHODS: A population study was conducted. Data were provided by the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre, the infectious disease physicians caring for the subjects, the New Zealand AIDS Epidemiology Group and laboratories carrying out HIV viral load assays. RESULTS: One hundred of 7732 (1.3%) UN quota refugees were HIV positive; mean age 30 years, 56% were men, median initial CD4 count was 320 (range 20-1358). HIV infection was most commonly acquired by heterosexual intercourse (74%). The median follow up was 5.0 years (range 1 month to 9.7 years). Five died and 15 subjects had 16 AIDS-defining illnesses, most commonly tuberculosis (n = 10). Sixty subjects commenced highly active antiretroviral therapy of whom 36/59 (61%) had an undetectable HIV viral load after 1 year of treatment. None of the six children born to HIV-infected women in New Zealand were infected. There were two known cases of horizontal transmission of HIV infection. CONCLUSION: Although HIV-infected quota refugees often have to overcome severe social, cultural and financial handicaps, their clinical outcome is generally very good, with response rates to highly active antiretroviral therapy that are similar to other patient groups. Furthermore, they have not been a significant source of transmission of HIV infection after resettlement in New Zealand.
BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to determine the clinical characteristics on arrival and the subsequent clinical outcome of HIV-infected UN quota refugees who settled in New Zealand during the last 11 years and to estimate their rate of HIV transmission. METHODS: A population study was conducted. Data were provided by the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre, the infectious disease physicians caring for the subjects, the New Zealand AIDS Epidemiology Group and laboratories carrying out HIV viral load assays. RESULTS: One hundred of 7732 (1.3%) UN quota refugees were HIV positive; mean age 30 years, 56% were men, median initial CD4 count was 320 (range 20-1358). HIV infection was most commonly acquired by heterosexual intercourse (74%). The median follow up was 5.0 years (range 1 month to 9.7 years). Five died and 15 subjects had 16 AIDS-defining illnesses, most commonly tuberculosis (n = 10). Sixty subjects commenced highly active antiretroviral therapy of whom 36/59 (61%) had an undetectable HIV viral load after 1 year of treatment. None of the six children born to HIV-infectedwomen in New Zealand were infected. There were two known cases of horizontal transmission of HIV infection. CONCLUSION: Although HIV-infected quota refugees often have to overcome severe social, cultural and financial handicaps, their clinical outcome is generally very good, with response rates to highly active antiretroviral therapy that are similar to other patient groups. Furthermore, they have not been a significant source of transmission of HIV infection after resettlement in New Zealand.
Authors: Elizabeth Chappell; Malte Kohns Vasconcelos; Ruth L Goodall; Luisa Galli; Tessa Goetghebuer; Antoni Noguera-Julian; Laura C Rodrigues; Henriette Scherpbier; Colette Smit; Alasdair Bamford; Siobhan Crichton; Marissa Luisa Navarro; Jose T Ramos; Josiane Warszawski; Vana Spolou; Elena Chiappini; Elisabetta Venturini; Filipa Prata; Christian Kahlert; Magdalena Marczynska; Laura Marques; Lars Naver; Claire Thorne; Diana M Gibb; Carlo Giaquinto; Ali Judd; Intira Jeannie Collins Journal: HIV Med Date: 2021-10-01 Impact factor: 3.094
Authors: Sara A Lowther; Glenise Johnson; Brett Hendel-Paterson; Kailey Nelson; Blain Mamo; Kristina Krohn; Luisa Pessoa-Brandão; Ann O'Fallon; William Stauffer Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2012-11-16 Impact factor: 3.390