Prevalence of HIV, HCV, and HBV in Central Asia and the Caucasus: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: HIV, Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are substantial public health threats in the region of Central Asia and the Caucasus, where the prevalence of these infections is currently rising. METHODS: We conducted as systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO with no publication date or language restrictions through October 2019, as well as harvesting additional data from national surveillance reports, references found in discovered sources, and other “grey” literature. We included studies conducted on high-risk populations (PWID, FSW, MSM, prisoners, and migrants) in Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan; and the Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Northern Caucasus region of the Russian Federation. FINDINGS: Wide ranges were noted for HIV prevalence: among people who inject drugs (PWID) from 0-30.1%, men having sex with men (MSM) 0-25.1%, prisoners 0-22.8%, female sex workers (FSW) 0-10.0%, and migrants 0.06-1.5%. The highest prevalences were reported in Kazakhstan (30.1%), Georgia (25.1% and 22.8%), and Uzbekistan (10.0%). HCV prevalence also had a wide range: PWID 0.3-92.1%, MSM 0-18.9%, prisoners 23.8-49.7%, FSW 3.3-17.8%, and migrants 0.5-26.5%, with the highest prevalences reported in Georgia (92.1%), Kyrgyzstan (49.7%), and migrants from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan (26.5%). Similarly, HBV prevalence ranged widely: PWID 2.8-79.7%, MSM 0-22.2%, prisoners 2.7-6.2%, FSW 18.4% (one study), and migrants 0.3-15.7%, with the highest prevalences in Kazakhstan (79.7%) and Uzbekistan (22.2% and 18.4%). INTERPRETATION: In Central Asia and the Caucasus, prevalence of HIV, HCV, and HBV remains exceedingly high among selected populations, notably PWID and MSM

• Epidemiology and Determinants of Health
  • Epidemiology
• Population(s)
  • General HIV+ population
  • General HIV- population
• Co-infections
  • Hepatitis B, C