The Emerging AIDS Crisis in Russia: Review of Enabling Factors and Prevention Needs

Eastern Europe is experiencing increased rates of HIV/AIDS, and the Russian Federation is among the countries with the most alarming case rate increases. Behavioural and biological studies demonstrate that the transmission of HIV in Russia is occurring as a result of injection drug use, homosexual, and heterosexual risk behaviours. Factors that promote risk and therefore enable HIV transmission in Russia parallel those found in other countries, including epidemics of other sexually transmitted infections, economic instability, poverty, and social factors such as gender roles. Research is urgently needed to better understand and forecast the HIV epidemic in Russia, as well as to develop effective interventions to prevent a Russian AIDS crisis.