GEOGRAPHIC-VARIATION IN HIV-INFECTION AMONG INJECTING DRUG-USERS WITHIN BARCELONA

In response to a high incidence of AIDS among injecting drug users in Barcelona, Spain, the city established a program in four geographically distinct centers for assistance and surveillance. The centers provided testing, counseling, and monitoring of infectious diseases. In 1991-92, HIV rates were 33% in the northwest center, 39% in the western center, 39% in the east, and 71% in the south. Differences between the rates in the southern center when compared with those in the other centers were very significant (P less than or equal to .001). These data show geographic variation of HIV infection within one city and substantiate the need to provide expanded medical care in the drug misuse treatment setting.