M. van Klaveren, K.G. Tijdens, M. Hughie-Williams and N.E. Ramos Martin
2.6.2. Health
The number of people in Azerbaijan living with HIV/AIDS for 2007 was estimated at 7,800, and that
was low in comparison with the rest of the region. In 2006, men made up nearly 90% of the newly registered
HIV cases. Since 2001 the World Health Organization (WHO) notes a steep rise of the HIV prevalence
among adults over the age 15, up to 120 per 100,000 in 2007 (WHO 2009), and still HIV prevalence may
well be under-reported: in 2006 out of 263,000 people tested for HIV at least 33,000 did not go through
pre-test counseling. Though mainly a men’s disease, recent increases in the numbers of trafficked women
and girls living with HIV are of particular concern. Notably in Baku HIV prevalence was high among inject-
ing drug users (IDUs), and IDUs comprise the dominant mode of transmission. Since the number of drug
users in Azerbaijan is quite high, and 50% to 60% of them inject heroin, the potential for further growth
of HIV infection rates is strong. International organizations emphasize that levels of public awareness of
HIV/AIDS are very low in Azerbaijan. In 2001, only one in 12 women spontaneously mentioned the use of
condoms as a possible preventive behaviour, and less than 3% of women independently identified HIV test-
ing as a form of prevention (ADB 2005, 53-4; CIA World Factbook). For 2000-2007, the WHO (2009) set
the proportion of the 15-24-year-olds with comprehensive correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS at a very low
5% of males and 6% of females. In Azerbaijan HIV/AIDS treatment is still in its infancy. Access to Anti
Retro-Viral Therapy (ART) was limited and, in spite of legally free treatment, HIV patients had to pay for
receiving treatment. Coverage of people with advanced HIV infection was only 14% (WHO 2009; Center
Women and Modern World et al 2009).
Concerning contraceptive prevalence, in a 2001 survey nearly three out of four women stated that they
wanted more information about contraception, including 85% of women aged 20—24 years. At the same
time 45% of married women reported an unmet need for effectively limiting childbearing. Clearly, like in the
former Soviet Union induced abortion still is the main method of fertility control. The 2001 RHS survey
reported the rather high number of 116 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years in a period of May
1998 — April 2001. Data on the sex ratio at birth and at later age (section 2.6.1), indicating a substantially
larger proportion of boys being born, strongly suggests that selective sex abortion is taking place. In a 2006
survey, 63% of the female respondents said to be aware of selective sex abortion practices, though less than
30% said to consider such practices acceptable. Obstetricians expressed their concern to researchers that
four out of 10 women referring to them and wanting to discontinue pregnancy did so because they were
bearing a girl (Republic of Azerbaijan 2005, 44; ADB 2005, 50-1; Cosby et al 2007, 50-1).
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