Keywords
social medicine
AIDS
antiretroviral therapy
pre-exposure prophylaxis
How to Cite
Abstract
In press
Background. HIV infection remains one of the most serious medical and social problems of our time: by the end of 2025, there were 40.9 million people living with HIV worldwide, and in Ukraine 129,802 people were under medical supervision (316.6 per 100,000 population). The Ukrainian epidemic has specific features – the dominance of the parenteral transmission route and a close link with injecting drug use – while the full-scale war creates additional challenges for HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Aim. To analyse the epidemiological situation of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine in comparison with global and European trends, to characterise the legal and regulatory framework counteracting the epidemic, and to assess current approaches to the prevention and treatment of HIV infection under conditions of full-scale war.
Materials and Methods. The theoretical research was carried out using bibliosemantic and comparative methods, descriptive statistics, system analysis, as a private initiative of the authors, without grant support and state registration of the topic. Data from UNAIDS, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine for 1986–2024, together with relevant scientific publications, were used.
Research Ethics. The study was conducted without the participation of patients, so it did not require the approval of the ethics committee.
Results. Five periods of development of the global and Ukrainian epidemics were identified; incidence in Ukraine peaked in 2010–2014 (compared with the mid-1990s worldwide), attributable to the delayed development of the epidemic among people who inject drugs. The multi-tiered legal framework was characterised (the Constitution of Ukraine, Law No. 1972-XII, orders of the Ministry of Health), together with Ukraine's international obligations (UN declarations, the State Strategy until 2030, the "95-95-95" target). Differentiated approaches to prevention for the general population, young people ("Vybir", "Programme 15", "Learning to Live Together"), and key populations (harm reduction, pre-exposure prophylaxis) were systematised. As of February 2025, 118,444 Ukrainians living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy. Prospects for HIV vaccine development were summarised based on studies published in 2025–2026 (mRNA platforms, DNA origami, the MVA.HIVconsvX vaccine).
Conclusions. The Ukrainian HIV/AIDS epidemic exhibits significant national specificity and requires a differentiated preventive approach. Despite the challenges of the war, Ukraine's healthcare system has shown resilience in ensuring access to treatment, and progress in vaccine development gives grounds for cautious optimism about controlling the epidemic.
Keywords: health care management, social medicine, AIDS, antiretroviral therapy, pre-exposure prophylaxis.
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