04.2008 - Source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime

Risk factors for the spread of HIV/AIDS in Afghanistan: Availability of opiates, unsafe injecting practices, commercial sex work, armed conflict, low status of women, low HIV/AIDS awareness and stigma associated with HIV/AIDS ("Illicit Drug Trends in Afghanistan") [ID 23173]

"Afghanistan has numerous risk factors that make the environment favorable for the spread of HIV. These risk factors include the wide availability of opiates, injecting drug use coupled with unsafe injecting practices, commercial sex work, the legacy of armed conflict including the significant number of refugees and displaced persons, the low socio-political and economic status of women, poor blood safety, weak state capacity which hinders public health service delivery, a large youth population, low HIV/AIDS awareness, and stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS."

Document(s): Open document

04.2008 - Source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime

Current prevalence of HIV is low, but the risk of it spreading is high; according to estimations from UNAIDS and WHO, 1,000 to 2,000 persons are infected with HIV/AIDS ("Illicit Drug Trends in Afghanistan") [ID 23174]

"In Afghanistan, the current prevalence of HIV is low, but the risk of it spreading is high.
The first case of HIV was registered in 1998. According to figures from blood banks and
Voluntary Confidential Counseling and Testing Centres (VCCT), there were 61 known
cases of HIV in 2006. As of August 2007, there were 245 known cases of HIV; however,
UNAIDS and WHO estimate the full extent of HIV/AIDS is more accurately in the range
of 1,000 to 2,000 infected persons."

Document(s): Open document

04.2008 - Source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime

Lack of government capacity to provide basic medical services, drug treatment, HIV testing and treatment ("Illicit Drug Trends in Afghanistan") [ID 23175]

"The poor state of blood transfusion facilities throughout the country is another key risk factor. An estimated half of the country’s 44 hospitals that perform surgery do not systematically test the blood for HIV before transfusions. There are 19 governmentrun HIV testing centres but supplies are limited,particularly HIV testing kits. This is coupled with a more general lack of government capacity to provide basic medical services, drug treatment, as well as HIV testing and treatment."

Document(s): Open document

07.09.2007 - Source: UK Home Office

Information on HIV/AIDS in Afghanistan ("Country of Origin Information Report; Afghanistan") [ID 22543]

For information on HIV/AIDS see chapter 26 (pages: 185 - 186)

Document(s): Open document

12.2006 - Source: World Health Organization

Epidemiological fact sheet on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (data on HIV/AIDS and STIs prevalence, health service and care indicators, prevention indicators) ("Epidemiological Fact Sheet on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections") [ID 22391]

Document(s): Open document