POPULATION WITH HIV/AIDS WITHOUT ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT IN THE MOST POPULOUS MUNICIPALITIES OF THE METROPOLITAN REGION OF CURITIBA, PARANÁ

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a condition resulting from the progression of infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV compromises the immune system, especially TCD4+ lymphocytes, making people susceptible to opportunistic infections and cancers (Bekker et al.,2023). Antiretroviral therapy (ART), when used properly, is highly effective because it suppresses the replication of HIV, improves immune function, and considerably reduces the risk of developing AIDS. In addition to the individual benefit, ART has a collective benefit because it suppresses the viral load and reduces the transmission of the HIV virus to other people (de la Mora; Mallolas; Ambrosioni, 2024; Unaids, 2023; Djawe et al., 2015). In Brazil, federal law 9.313 was enacted in 1996, which provided advances in public health policies related to HIV. This law guaranteed access to antiretroviral drugs for all people with HIV/AIDS in the country, through the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) (Brazil, 1996). As a result, there was a significant reduction in mortality due to AIDS, an increase in life expectations and an improvement in the quality of life of people with HIV (Damião et al., 2022). In addition to access to antiretroviral therapy, the Ministry of Health indicates the immediate start of treatment for those diagnosed with HIV (Brazil, 2013; Brazil, 2023). However, many individuals who received a positive diagnosis have never started the antiretroviral treatment to control the infection (Unaids, 2023; Brazil, 2023; Oladele et al., 2018). The people who are in this situation are known to be in an HIV treatment gap. Given the above, it becomes relevant to investigate the HIV treatment gap to diagnose the situation and develop strategies to combat the progression of HIV infection and its consequences for individual and collective health. The study goal was to investigate the occurrence of treatment gap in the most populous municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba, Paraná, in 2023. Moreover, this research evaluated the sociodemographic and clinical profile of the population in HIV treatment gap.