Examination of incidences of hiv infection and tuberculosis in some selected european countries with statistical process control

Abstract

Objective: Statistical process control (SPC) is a method of analysis developed for examining the data of a process and which facilitates understanding of that process. The aim of this study is to investigate whether or not human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection and tuberculosis (TB) were brought under control in some selected European countries between the years 1990 and 2016, as well as to examine the association between HIV and TB in the years when they went out of control. Moreover, the relationship between these diseases and selected Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development criteria will be examined. Material and Methods: The time course of HIV and TB in some selected European countries was examined with SPC based on years, the HIV and TB incidence data on the World Health Organization (WHO) and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) databases between the years 1990 and 2016 were utilised. The mid-year population figures of the European countries were taken from the WHO database. The European countries (Germany, France, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Turkey, Poland and Ukraine) included in the study were selected based on the WHO European Region classification. Results: HIV and TB have been brought under control in Western European countries. However, in Central European countries, TB is under control, whereas HIV is out of control. In Ukraine, which represents the Eastern European countries, both infections are out of control. Conclusion: When an assessment is made in terms of factors that affect bringing HIV under control, it is striking that there are significant epidemiological and HIV treatment cascade differences between countries. When policies are being created especially for bringing the HIV infection under control, the policies of countries which have brought this infection under control also need to be examined.