Trends in New HIV diagnoses in BC for 2012

by Theodora B. Consolacion, Epidemiologist, Clinical Prevention Services, BCCDC

In this update, we present the final number of new HIV diagnoses in BC for 2012, and describe recent trends by gender, region, and exposure category.

Methods

We used provincial HIV surveillance data to describe the number of new HIV diagnoses in BC overall (1986-2012) and to describe trends for the past ten years (2003-2012) by gender, regional health authority, and exposure category. Although new HIV diagnoses are a core component of HIV surveillance in BC, new HIV diagnoses are a proxy for HIV incidence because individuals may receive a diagnosis at varying stages of HIV infection.

Findings

In 2012, the lowest number of new HIV diagnoses per year on record was noted, continuing a declining trend over the past eight years. Overall, the final number of new HIV diagnoses for 2012 was 238, for a rate of 5.2 per 100,000

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