HIV in Scotland
Update to 31 December 2022

About this release

This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents data on the uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV diagnoses and access to specialist HIV care and treatment in Scotland.

Main points

• Between July and December 2022, 1,142 individuals accessed HIV PrEP for the first time, an average of 190 month. This is highest number in any six-month period since implementation of the programme in July 2017.
• During 2022, a total of 317 reports of HIV diagnoses were recorded in Scotland. This includes 108 diagnoses reported for the first time and 209 reported for the first time in Scotland, but diagnosed elsewhere.

This graph presents data on the number of new HIV diagnoses reported each year for the first time in Scotland between 2013 and 2022. These are individuals for whom this is the first record of a positive HIV test. These data are presented by category of exposure route.

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Annual number of first ever HIV diagnoses by mode of acquisition in Scotland, 2013–2022*

* Total (all exposure categories) includes diagnoses with other or unknown routes of acquisition under investigation.  

• A shift in the balance of first ever and previously known diagnoses has been observed in recent years. The proportion of all HIV reports accounted for by first ever diagnoses decreased from 60% in 2018 to 34% in 2022. It should be noted, however, that HIV testing is still recovering to pre COVID-19 levels and, therefore, may impact diagnoses data.
• The number of recently acquired HIV infections (within the previous 3-4 months) continues to decline.
• At December 2022, an estimated 6,600 people were living with HIV in Scotland, of whom 6,150 (93%) had been diagnosed.
• Of those engaged with HIV services, 98% were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and, of those, 93% were recorded as having an undetectable viral load.

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system, causing a chronic, lifelong infection which can be managed successfully by antiretroviral therapy. HIV can be transmitted through condomless vaginal and anal sex, sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment and transmission from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. Untreated HIV infection progresses to advanced HIV disease or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). People diagnosed with HIV and on ART are able to live long, healthy lives. HIV PrEP is highly effective for preventing sexual acquisition of HIV.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be Autumn 2024.