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HIV and AIDS

would like to thank the following individuals for their contributions and cooperation: All statutory and voluntary agencies, hospices and specialist drug services This report, the fourth annual report of the North West HIV/AIDS Monitoring Unit, presents data on HIV positive individuals accessing treatment and care in the North West Region. This year the quality and completeness of much of the data from the statutory sector has been improved enabling a more in-depth analysis and a greater range of tabulated information. In addition, we are now able to provide maps and data illustrating not just the Health Authority but also the Local Authority of residence of HIV positive individuals accessing statutory treatment centres in the North West of England. During 1999, a total of 1,410 individuals living with HIV or AIDS presented to statutory treatment centres in the North West Region. This figure represents a 16% increase in the numbers reported in 1998 (1,218), a significantly higher increase than in previous years and much higher than national predictions. Data for 1999 now indicate an increase of 50% in the number of HIV positive individuals accessing treatment services in the North West of England over the last five years (fig. 1.12). A total of 40 statutory treatment centres within the North West provided treatment and care for HIV positive individuals resident in every district within the Region. The predominant method of exposure to HIV in the North West continues to be homosexual sex, accounting for two thirds of all cases presenting to North West treatment centres in 1999 (fig. 3.2). There are however, considerable variations within the Region, with over three-quarters of HIV and AIDS cases resident in Salford & Trafford being attributed to homo/bisexual exposure, compared to fewer than half the cases resident in Sefton (fig. 3.4). The relatively high levels of exposure via homosexual and bisexual sex amongst men is reflected in the gender distribution of HIV and AIDS cases, with males representing 88% of those accessing statutory services in the North West (fig. 3.5). Heterosexual sex continues to be the second largest exposure group, accounting for 18% of all cases in 1999 (fig. 3.4). This represents a slight proportional increase when compared to data from previous years, following trends for the United Kingdom as a whole. Manchester Health Authority continues to report the highest numbers of HIV positive individuals and AIDS cases in the North West, accounting for over …