Paraguay Registers Increase In Number Of New HIV Diagnoses

Paraguay's Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare reported Friday that the country has registered an increase in the number of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnoses in the last year.

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1,519 new HIV diagnoses were identified in 2022, mostly men, of which 495 were categorized as AIDS, the ministry said, citing a report by the National HIV/Aids/STI Control Program (PRONAAIDS) on the epidemiological situation of HIV in the country.

About 59% of the new diagnoses were identified in the general population, while in men who have sex with men 32.19% and in pregnant women 6.91%.

The report adds that 52.73% of those newly diagnosed with HIV belonged to the 20-34 age group; 0.72% were under 5 years of age.

The highest rate of new diagnoses is located in the capital Asunción with 57.21%, followed by the departments of Amambay (northern region), Misiones (south), Central, and Concepción (north).

The official report noted that the South American country has experienced a progressive increase in new cases of HIV infection in recent years. From 2018 to 2019, the percentage of new diagnoses increased from 1,564 to 1,605 (2.62%); subsequently, in 2020, a 25% decrease in the number of diagnosed persons was experienced. 

"From 2021 to 2022 there was an increase in new HIV diagnoses of 26.48 percent compared to the 2020 period." 

In terms of mortality, the report notes that 112 people with HIV died last year, of which 87 were men and 25 women, with a cumulative mortality rate of 4.72.

According to the report, 17,156 people are currently living with HIV in the South American country.