A mathematical modeling approach to measure the probability of HIV-1 transmission for different high-risk groups of Pakistan

Introduction: Since 2010, the number of new HIV-1 cases has declined by 30% globally, however, in few countries, such as Pakistan, the cases have continued to increase, where the country witnessed a 57% increase in the number of new infections between 2010 and 2020. The HIV-1 epidemic in Pakistan i...

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Main Authors: Syed Rizwan-ul-Hasan, Fatima Farrukh, Shakil Ahmed, Syed Hani Abidi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2021-08-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/12664
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author Syed Rizwan-ul-Hasan
Fatima Farrukh
Shakil Ahmed
Syed Hani Abidi
author_facet Syed Rizwan-ul-Hasan
Fatima Farrukh
Shakil Ahmed
Syed Hani Abidi
author_sort Syed Rizwan-ul-Hasan
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Since 2010, the number of new HIV-1 cases has declined by 30% globally, however, in few countries, such as Pakistan, the cases have continued to increase, where the country witnessed a 57% increase in the number of new infections between 2010 and 2020. The HIV-1 epidemic in Pakistan is concentrated in certain high-risk groups, however, it is unknown which high-risk group has a higher likelihood of transmitting HIV-1 infections to vulnerable populations. This study aimed to apply mathematical probabilistic modeling to estimate the probability of HIV-1 transmission for different high-risk groups of Pakistan. Methodology: MATLAB software was used to conduct probabilistic modeling (chance estimation) of HIV-1 transmission for different high-risk groups of Pakistan, and also draw a comparison between Pakistan and different high- and low- HIV-1 prevalence countries. Results: Our results revealed that Pakistan overall had the lowest probability of HIV-1 transmission as compared to other countries included in this study; however, within Pakistan, certain high-risk groups such as people who inject drugs (PWID) and the region of Larkana exhibited a high probability of HIV-1 transmissions. Conclusions: Our study suggests that the concentrated HIV-1 epidemic in Pakistan has a high likelihood of expansion from certain high-risk groups to other vulnerable populations. Further studies to understand the socio-epidemiological factors driving the expansion of the HIV-1 epidemic within the country will guide specific HIV-1 intervention strategies to control the spread of HIV-1 from high-risk to other vulnerable populations.
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spelling doaj-art-28799af32d634e2c9b6f0bca9308a2462025-08-20T02:16:06ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802021-08-01150810.3855/jidc.12664A mathematical modeling approach to measure the probability of HIV-1 transmission for different high-risk groups of PakistanSyed Rizwan-ul-Hasan0Fatima Farrukh1Shakil Ahmed2Syed Hani Abidi3Department of Computer Science, DHA Suffa University, Karachi, PakistanMedical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, PakistanDepartment of Computer Engineering, Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, PakistanDepartment of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan Introduction: Since 2010, the number of new HIV-1 cases has declined by 30% globally, however, in few countries, such as Pakistan, the cases have continued to increase, where the country witnessed a 57% increase in the number of new infections between 2010 and 2020. The HIV-1 epidemic in Pakistan is concentrated in certain high-risk groups, however, it is unknown which high-risk group has a higher likelihood of transmitting HIV-1 infections to vulnerable populations. This study aimed to apply mathematical probabilistic modeling to estimate the probability of HIV-1 transmission for different high-risk groups of Pakistan. Methodology: MATLAB software was used to conduct probabilistic modeling (chance estimation) of HIV-1 transmission for different high-risk groups of Pakistan, and also draw a comparison between Pakistan and different high- and low- HIV-1 prevalence countries. Results: Our results revealed that Pakistan overall had the lowest probability of HIV-1 transmission as compared to other countries included in this study; however, within Pakistan, certain high-risk groups such as people who inject drugs (PWID) and the region of Larkana exhibited a high probability of HIV-1 transmissions. Conclusions: Our study suggests that the concentrated HIV-1 epidemic in Pakistan has a high likelihood of expansion from certain high-risk groups to other vulnerable populations. Further studies to understand the socio-epidemiological factors driving the expansion of the HIV-1 epidemic within the country will guide specific HIV-1 intervention strategies to control the spread of HIV-1 from high-risk to other vulnerable populations. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/12664HIV-1Probabilistic modelinghigh-risk groupsPakistan
spellingShingle Syed Rizwan-ul-Hasan
Fatima Farrukh
Shakil Ahmed
Syed Hani Abidi
A mathematical modeling approach to measure the probability of HIV-1 transmission for different high-risk groups of Pakistan
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
HIV-1
Probabilistic modeling
high-risk groups
Pakistan
title A mathematical modeling approach to measure the probability of HIV-1 transmission for different high-risk groups of Pakistan
title_full A mathematical modeling approach to measure the probability of HIV-1 transmission for different high-risk groups of Pakistan
title_fullStr A mathematical modeling approach to measure the probability of HIV-1 transmission for different high-risk groups of Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed A mathematical modeling approach to measure the probability of HIV-1 transmission for different high-risk groups of Pakistan
title_short A mathematical modeling approach to measure the probability of HIV-1 transmission for different high-risk groups of Pakistan
title_sort mathematical modeling approach to measure the probability of hiv 1 transmission for different high risk groups of pakistan
topic HIV-1
Probabilistic modeling
high-risk groups
Pakistan
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/12664
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