Access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for women and children in the WHO European Region 2002-2006

Objective. To assess the level of access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for women and children in the WHO European Region. Methods. Analysis of data from three national surveys of 53 WHO European Member States. The comparative level of access to HAART for women and children was assessed by comparing the percentage of reported HIV cases with the percentage of HAART recipients in women at the end of 2002 and 2006 and in children at the end of 2004 and 2006. Findings. Overall, the data suggest that there is equivalence of access to antiretroviral therapy by gender and age in Europe. However, in central and eastern Europe women were disproportionately more likely to receive HAART when compared with men in 2006, representing 29% of HIV cases when compared with 39% of HAART recipients in central Europe, and 34% of HIV cases when compared with 42% of HAART recipients in eastern Europe. In comparison with adults, children (