Sign in. Editorial Policies. Send email. Copy url:. Justyna Kulczyk-Lewinska. PlumX metrics:. Introduction Risky sexual behaviour, particularly unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse, significantly contributes to the heightened vulnerability of women to HIV transmission. There are very limited data concerning risky sexual behaviour among Polish women who are not commercial sex workers CSW or those who have not yet been diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus HIV [1].
Firstly, there is a lack of research focusing on Polish women, arguably making them an underrepresented demographic, which supports the need for this study. Secondly, due to the nature of the topic, research regarding sexual behaviour is extremely sensitive. According to the literature, it is difficult to estimate the level of knowledge that Polish women possess about the HIV [1, 2]. Emerging from the literature is the prevailing notion that the general awareness of HIV within Polish society is fragmented and incomplete [3].
Contrary to the escalating trajectory of newly diagnosed HIV cases documented in certain European regions [4—6], the recent trajectory in Poland diverges. Furthermore, this increase was notably higher by This downward trend could potentially be attributed to reduced diagnoses during the COVID pandemic; however, it is important to note that these data provide substantial evidence of a prevailing decrease [8].
Specifically, it underscores that within the cohort of 2. However, the landscape of Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, presents a divergent narrative, one characterised by an intricate challenge. This regional context engenders an overarching scenario where the WHO European Region continues to grapple with an ascendant trajectory in newly reported HIV infections, with the Eastern Europe Region notably contributing to this unfortunate escalation.
This nuanced landscape underscores the pressing imperative of targeted awareness and intervention strategies to arrest the propagation of the virus and bolster the attainment of broader public health goals.
