Research Activities and Publications

The Centre is a part of the Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, School of Medicine in Zagreb. Carrying out research in HIV epidemiology and prevention is one of our key activities. The research interest of the Centre’s staff is in carrying out probability-based epidemiological studies in key and priority populations, key population size estimation, evaluation of interventions and assessing population-level impact of interventions.

Our research is focused on:

Methodological innovations in evaluation of HIV, STI and viral hepatitis prevention and control interventions
Evaluation of PMTCT of HIV, syphilis and HBV and validation of progress towards elimination of MTCT of these infections
Analysis of the continuum of HIV and hepatitis prevention and treatment
Effectiveness of various HIV testing modalities
Factors associated with linkage and retention in HIV treatment
HIV and STI bio-behavioural surveys in key and priority populations
Key population size estimation
Integration of multiple data sources for guiding programmatic decision making
Translations of findings from HIV research into HIV prevention, control and treatment programmes

Selected research studies:

HIV epidemiolofical review, Myanmar, 2025
Assessment of the impact of COVID-19 epidemic on access to HIV prevention and treatment services in Ukraine, 2021-2024
Estimates of the size of key populations in Nepal, 2024
National-level HIV bio-behavioural survey in migrant male workers in Nepal, 2024
Availability of data relevant for validation of EMTCT of HIV, syphilis and HBV in the countries of the WHO European Region, 2023
Assessment of STI epidemiological data in the countries of the WHO European Region, 2022
Key population size estimation in Papua New Guinea, 2022-2023
Bio-behavioural survey in PWUD and PWID in Lao PDR, 2021
Bio-behavioural survey using RDS in PWID in three cities in Croatia, 2021-2022
Analysis of the continuum of HIV care, Morocco, 2019-2020
Bio-bihevioural surveys based on RDS among five key populations in five cities in Sri Lanka, 2017-2018
Population size estimation of five key populations in Sri Lanka, 2017-2018
Assessment of patterns of HIV transmission in Ukraine at the national and regional levels, 2013-2016
Assessment of key components of HIV strategic information systems in WHO EMR countries, 2009-2019
Bio-bihevioural survey using RDS among PWID in three cities in Croatia, 2015
Bio-bihevioural survey based on cluster sampling among female seasonal workers in Morocco, 2013
Bio-bihevioural survey using RDS in MSM in Zagreb, Croatia, 2010-2011
Cluster-based household survey on prevalence of chlamydial infection and sexual behaviours, knowledge and attitudes among young people in Croatia, 2010

Assessment of the impact of COVID-19 epidemic on access to HIV prevention and treatment services in Ukraine, 2021-2024
Estimates of the size of key populations in Nepal, 2024
National-level HIV bio-behavioural survey in migrant male workers in Nepal, 2024
Availability of data relevant for validation of EMTCT of HIV, syphilis and HBV in the countries of the WHO European Region, 2023
Assessment of STI epidemiological data in the countries of the WHO European Region, 2022
Key population size estimation in Papua New Guinea, 2022-2023
Bio-behavioural survey in PWUD and PWID in Lao PDR, 2021
Bio-behavioural survey using RDS in PWID in three cities in Croatia, 2021-2022
Analysis of the continuum of HIV care, Morocco, 2019-2020
Bio-bihevioural surveys based on RDS among five key populations in five cities in Sri Lanka, 2017-2018
Population size estimation of five key populations in Sri Lanka, 2017-2018
Assessment of patterns of HIV transmission in Ukraine at the national and regional levels, 2013-2016
Assessment of key components of HIV strategic information systems in WHO EMR countries, 2009-2019
Bio-bihevioural survey using RDS among PWID in three cities in Croatia, 2015
Bio-bihevioural survey based on cluster sampling among female seasonal workers in Morocco, 2013
Bio-bihevioural survey using RDS in MSM in Zagreb, Croatia, 2010-2011
Cluster-based household survey on prevalence of chlamydial infection and sexual behaviours, knowledge and attitudes among young people in Croatia, 2010

Review of HIV epidemics and policy responses among MSM in 27 countries of eastern Europe (commissioned by WHO EURO)
Pre-surveillance assessment and bio-bihevioural survey based on RDS among FSW in Yemen, 2007-2008
Bio-bihevioural survey based on RDS among PWID in three cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2007 (commissioned by UNICEF)
Bio-bihevioural survey based on RDS among MSM in Zagreb, Croatia, 2006
Bihevioural survey based on convenience sampling among sailors in Croatia, 2005
Time-location bihevioural survey among truck drivers in Croatia, 2005 and 2010
Cluster-based household survey on sexual behaviours, knowledge and attitudes among young people in Croatia, 2005

HIV care in Central and Eastern Europe: How close are we to the target? Int J Infect Dis. 2018;70:121-130.

Gokengin D, Oprea C, Begovac J, et al.

Overdose mortality in Croatia and factors associated with self-reported drug overdose among PWID in three Croatian cities. Int J Drug Policy. 2019;64:95-102.

Handanagic S, Bozicevic I, Sekerija M, Rutherford GW, Begovac J.

Estimating the population size of female sex workers and transgender women in Sri Lanka. PLoS One. 2020;15(1):e0227689.

Bozicevic I, Manathunge A, Dominkovic Z, Beneragama S, Kriitmaa K.

HIV Strategic Information in Non-European Union Countries in the World Health Organization European Region: Capacity Development Needs. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2017 Jun 23;3(2):e41.

Bozicevic I, Handanagic S, Cakalo JI, Rinder Stengaard A, Rutherford G.

HIV prevalence and related risk behaviours in female seasonal farm workers in Souss Massa Draa, Morocco: results from a cross-sectional survey using cluster-based sampling. Sex Transm Infect. 2017 Jun 8. pii: sextrans-2016-052904. doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2016-052904. [Epub ahead of print]

Bozicevic I, Guezzar F, Stulhofer A, Bennani A, Handanagic S, Barbaric J, El Rhilani H, Alami K, Khattabi H, Riedner G, Maaroufi A.

Correlates of anti-hepatitis C positivity and use of harm reduction services among people who inject drugs in two cities in Croatia. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017 Feb 1;171:132-139.

Handanagic S, Sevic S, Barbaric J, Dominkovic Z, Dakovic Rode O, Begovac J, Bozicevic I.

HIV and HCV prevalence and incarceration-related risks among injecting drug users in three West Bank governorates. AIDS Care. 2016 Sep;28(9):1159-65.

Štulhofer A, Jwehan I, AbuRabie R.

The growing HIV epidemic in Central Europe: a neglected issue? J Virus Erad. 2016 Jul 1;2(3):156-61.

Gökengin D, Oprea C, Uysal S, Begovac J.

HIV and hepatitis C prevalence, and related risk behaviours among people who inject drugs in three cities in Croatia: Findings from respondent-driven sampling surveys. Int J Drug Policy. 2016 Jun;32:57-63.

Handanagic S, Bozicevic I, Civljak M, Dominkovic Z, Sevic S, Barbaric J, Nemeth Blazic T, Dakovic Rode O, Begovac J.

Victimization and HIV Risks Among Croatian Female Sex Workers: Exploring the Mediation Role of Depressiveness and the Moderation Role of Social Support. Violence Against Women. 2016 Mar 28. pii: 1077801216636241. [Epub ahead of print]

Štulhofer A, Sinković M, Božić J, Baćak V.

Auditing HIV Testing Rates across Europe: Results from the HIDES 2 Study. PLoS One. 2015 Nov 11;10(11):e0140845.

Raben D, Mocroft A, Rayment M, Mitsura VM, Hadziosmanovic V, Sthoeger ZM, Palfreeman A, Morris S, Kutsyna G, Vassilenko A, Minton J, Necsoi C, Estrada VP, Grzeszczuk A, Johansson VS,Begovac J, Ong EL, Cabié A, Ajana F, Celesia BM, Maltez F, Kitchen M, Comi L, Dragsted UB, Clumeck N, Gatell J, Gazzard B, d’Arminio Monforte A, Rockstroh J, Yazdanpanah Y, Champenois K, Jakobsen ML, Sullivan A, Lundgren JD; HIDES Audit Study Group.

Misclassification of men with reported HIV infection in Ukraine. AIDS Behav. 2015 Oct;19(10):1938-40.

Čakalo JI, Božičević I, Vitek C, Mandel JS, Salyuk T, Rutherford GW.

Prevalence of HIV and other infections and correlates of needle and syringe sharing among people who inject drugs in Podgorica, Montenegro: a respondent-driven sampling survey. Harm Reduct J. 2015 Feb 28;12:2.

Lausevic D, Begic S, Mugosa B, Terzic N, Vratnica Z, Labovic I, Bozicevic I.

HIV risks and HIV prevention among female sex workers in two largest urban settings in Croatia, 2008-2014. AIDS Care. 2015;27(6):767-71.

Štulhofer A, Landripet I, Božić J, Božičević I.

Hepatitis E in patients with hepatic disorders and HIV-infected patients in Croatia: is one diagnostic method enough for hepatitis E diagnosis? Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2014 Dec;33(12):2231-6.

Ðaković Rode O, Jemeršić L, Brnić D, Pandak N, Mikulić R, Begovac J, Vince A.

2014 European Guideline on HIV testing. Int J STD AIDS. 2014 Sep;25(10):695-704.

Gökengin D, Geretti AM, Begovac J, Palfreeman A, Stevanovic M, Tarasenko O, Radcliffe K.

Slowing of the HIV epidemic in Ukraine: evidence from case reporting and key population surveys, 2005-2012. PLoS One. 2014 Sep 24;9(9):e103657.

Vitek CR, Čakalo JI, Kruglov YV, Dumchev KV, Salyuk TO, Božičević I, Baughman AL, Spindler HH, Martsynovska VA, Kobyshcha YV, Abdul-Quader AS, Rutherford GW.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in adolescent girls before reported sexual debut. J Infect Dis. 2014 Sep 15;210(6):837-45.

Houlihan CF, de Sanjosé S, Baisley K, Changalucha J, Ross DA, Kapiga S, Godinez JM, Bozicevic I, Hayes RJ, Watson-Jones D.

Trends in underlying causes of death in people with HIV from 1999 to 2011 (D:A:D): a multicohort collaboration. Lancet. 2014 Jul 19;384(9939):241-8.

Smith CJ, Ryom L, Weber R, Morlat P, Pradier C, Reiss P, Kowalska JD, de Wit S, Law M, el Sadr W, Kirk O, Friis-Moller N, Monforte Ad, Phillips AN, Sabin CA, Lundgren JD; D:A:D Study Group.

The emerging and re-emerging human immunodeficiency virus epidemics in Europe. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2013 Oct;19(10):917-29.

Bozicevic I, Handanagic S, Lepej SZ, Begovac J.

Integrated bio-behavioural HIV surveillance surveys among female sex workers in Sudan, 2011-2012. Sex Transm Infect. 2013 Nov;89 Suppl 3:iii17-22.

Elhadi M, Elbadawi A, Abdelrahman S, Mohammed I, Bozicevic I, Hassan EA, Elmukhtar M, Ahmed S, Abdelraheem MS, Mubarak N, Elsanousi S, Setayesh H.

HIV surveillance in MENA: recent developments and results.HIV surveillance in MENA: recent developments and results. Sex Transm Infect. 2013 Nov;89 Suppl 3:iii11-16.

Bozicevic I, Riedner G, Calleja JM.

Ultrasound measurements of carotid intima-media thickness and plaque in HIV-infected patients on the Mediterranean diet. Croat Med J. 2013 Aug;54(4):330-8.

Višković K, Rutherford GW, Sudario G, Stemberger L, Brnić Z, Begovac J.

Determinants of risky sexual behavior among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Georgia. AIDS Behav. 2013 Jun;17(5):1906-13. doi: 10.1007/s10461-012-0296-9.

Chikovani I, Goguadze K, Bozicevic I, Rukhadze N, Gotsadze G.

Repeated presentation of Graves’ disease as a manifestation of immune reconstitution syndrome in an HIV-infected patient taking HAART: case report. Acta Clin Croat. 2013 Mar;52(1):125-7.

Visković K, Stemberger L, Brnić Z, Begovac J.

Toxicity-related antiretroviral drug treatment modifications in individuals starting therapy: a cohort analysis of time patterns, sex, and other risk factors. Med Sci Monit. 2013 Jun 21;19:483-92. doi: 10.12659/MSM.889283.

Perović Mihanović M, Haque NS, Rutherford GW, Zekan Š, Begovac J.

Tuberculosis-Associated Immune Reconstruction Inflammatory Syndrome (TB-IRIS) in HIV-Infected Patients: Report of Two Cases and the Literature Overview. Case Rep Infect Dis. 2013;2013:323208. doi: 10.1155/2013/323208. Epub 2013 Apr 18.

Viskovic K, Begovac J.

Feasibility and effectiveness of indicator condition-guided testing for HIV: results from HIDES I (HIV indicator diseases across Europe study). PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e52845. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052845. Epub 2013 Jan 15.

Bozicevic I, Guezzar F, Stulhofer A, Bennani A, Handanagic S, Barbaric J, El Rhilani H, Alami K, Khattabi H, Riedner G, Maaroufi A.

Prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections and patterns of recent HIV testing among men who have sex with men in Zagreb, Croatia. Sex Transm Infect. 2012 Nov;88(7):539-44. doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2011-050374. Epub 2012 May 24.

Bozicevic I, Lepej SZ, Rode OD, Grgic I, Jankovic P, Dominkovic Z, Lukas D, Johnston LG, Begovac J.

The prevalence of transmitted drug resistance in newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals in Croatia: the role of transmission clusters of men who have sex with men carrying the T215S surveillance drug resistance mutation. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2013 Feb;29(2):329-36. doi: 10.1089/AID.2012.0191. Epub 2012 Oct 4.

Grgic I, Lepej SZ, Lunar MM, Poljak M, Vince A, Vrakela IB, Planinic A, Seme K, Begovac J.

Serum apoptosis markers in HIV-infected patients with human herpesvirus type 8 and herpes simplex virus type 2 co-infection. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2012 Dec;31(12):3303-8. doi: 10.1007/s10096-012-1696-5. Epub 2012 Jul 27

Dakovic Rode O, Markotic A, Kujundzic Tiljak M, Zidovec Lepej S, Begovac J.

Erratum to: The prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, and HIV-related risk-taking behaviors among Palestinian injecting drug users in the East Jerusalem Governorate. J Urban Health. 2012 Aug;89(4):677. doi: 10.1007/s11524-012-9746-y.

Stulhofer A, Chetty A, Rabie RA, Jwehan I, Ramlawi A.

The prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, and HIV-related risk-taking behaviors among Palestinian injecting drug users in the East Jerusalem Governorate. J Urban Health. 2012 Aug;89(4):671-6. doi: 10.1007/s11524-012-9672-z. Erratum in: J Urban Health. 2012 Aug;89(4):677.

Stulhofer A, Chetty A, Rabie RA, Jwehan I, Ramlawi A.

Is Religiosity a Barrier to Sexual and Reproductive Health? Results from a Population-Based Study of Young Croatian Adults. Arch Sex Behav. 2012

Puzek I, Stulhofer A, Božičević I.

Unsafe injection and sexual risk behavior among injecting drug users in Georgia. J Urban Health. 2011 Aug;88(4):736-48. doi: 10.1007/s11524-011-9571-8.

Chikovani I, Božičević I, Goguadze K, Rukhadze N, Gotsadze G.

Religiosity and sexual risk behavior among Croatian college students, 1998-2008. J Sex Res. 2011; 48:360-71.

Stulhofer A, Soh D, Jelaska N, Baćak V, Landripet I.

Electrocardiographic changes in hospitalized patients with leptospirosis over a 10-year period. Med Sci Monit. 2011; 17:CR369-375

Škerk V, Markotic A, Puljiz I, Kuzman I, Celjuska Tosev E, Habus J, Turk N, Begovac J.

In vitro antifungal susceptibilities and molecular typing of sequentially isolated clinical Cryptococcus neoformans strains from Croatia. J Med Microbiol. 2011; 26.

Mlinaric-Missoni E, Hagen F, Chew WH, Vazic-Babic V, Boekhout T, Begovac J.

Predicted coronary heart disease risk in croatian HIV infected patients treated with combination antiretroviral therapy. Coll Antropol. 2011 Mar;35(1):115-21.

Turcinov D, Begovac J.

A standardized algorithm for determining the underlying cause of death in HIV infection as AIDS or non-AIDS related: results from the EuroSIDA study. HIV Clin Trials. 2011 Mar-Apr;12(2):109-17. doi: 10.1310/hct1202-109.

Kowalska JD, Mocroft A, Ledergerber B, Florence E, Ristola M, Begovac J, Sambatakou H, Pedersen C, Lundgren JD, Kirk O; Eurosida Study Group.

Sexual health difficulties in a population-based sample of Croatian women aged 18-35 and the effects of the dual (career and motherhood) role. J Sex Med. 2011; 8:1314-21.

Stulhofer A, Kuljanić K, Buzina DŠ.

[Health status and health needs assessment–state of the art of the public health practice in Croatia]. Acta Med Croatica. 2010 Dec;64(5):317-25. Croatian.Baćak V, Stulhofer A.

Vuletić S, Sogorić S, Malatestinić D, Božicević I.

Condom Use Errors and Problems in a National Sample of Young Croatian Adults. Arch Sex Behav. 2011; DOI: 10.1007/s10508-011-9838-x

Baćak, V, Štulhofer, A.

Urine-based testing for Chlamydia trachomatis among young adults in a population-based survey in Croatia: feasibility and prevalence. BMC Public Health. 2011; DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-230

Božičević I, Grgić I, Židovec-Lepej S, Čakalo JI, Belak-Kovačević S, Štulhofer A, Begovac J.

Changes in human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted infections-related sexual risk taking among young Croatian adults: 2005 and 2010 population-based surveys. Croat Med J. 2011; 52(4):458-68.

Landripet I, Stulhofer A, Bacak V.

HIV risks among female sex workers in Croatia and Montenegro. Coll Antropol. 2010; 34(3):881-6.

Stulhofer A, Lausević D, Bozicević I, Baćak V, Mugoba B, Terzić N, Drglin T.

Understanding the association between condom use at first and most recent sexual intercourse: An assessment of normative, calculative, and habitual explanations Soc Sci Med 2010; 70(12):2080-4.

Stulhofer A, Baćak V, Ajduković D, Graham C.

The emerging HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men in southeastern Europe. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2010; 8:1351-8.

Bozicevic I, Begovac J.

Increased frequency of viral loads above 100,000 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml measured by Roche Cobas TaqMan assay in comparison with Cobas Amplicor assay J Clin Virol 2010; 48(1):75-6.

Grgic I, Zidovec Lepej S, Vince A, Begovac J.

HIV prevalence and characteristics of sex work among female sex workers in Hargeisa, Somaliland, Somalia. AIDS. 2010; 2:S61-7.

Kriitmaa K, Testa A, Osman M, Bozicevic I, Riedner G, Malungu J, Irving G, Abdalla I.

Female sex work and HIV risks in Croatia. AIDS Care 2009; 21(11): 1439-46.

Stulhofer A, Baćak V, Drglin T, Puljiz M, Miklin M.

Phylogenetic analysis of HIV sequences obtained in a respondent-driven sampling study of men who have sex with men. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2009; 25(12):1335-8.

Lepej SZ, Vrakela IB, Poljak M, Bozicevic I, Begovac J.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of body-shape changes in Croatian patients treated with combination antiretroviral therapy. Eur J Epidemiol 2009; 24(5):267-74.

Turcinov D, Stanley C, Rutherford GW, Novotny TE, Begovac J.

High prevalence of non-B HIV-1 subtypes in seamen and their sexual partners in Croatia. J Med Virol. 2009; 81(4):573-7.

Ramirez-Piedad MK, Lepej SZ, Yerly S, Begovac J.

Assessment of ultrasound for use in detecting lipoatrophy in HIV-infected patients taking combination antiretroviral therapy. AIDS Patient Care STDS 2009; 23(2):79-84.

Viskovic K, Richman I, Klasnic K, Hernandez A, Krolo I, Rutherford GW, Romih V, Begovac J.

Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Zagreb, Croatia. AIDS Behav 2008; 32(3):693-5.

Bozicevic I, Rode OD, Lepej SZ, Johnston LG, Stulhofer A, Dominkovic Z, Bacak V, Lukas D, Begovac J

Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 in adult HIV-infected patients and blood donors in Croatia. Coll Antropol 2008; 32(3):693-5.

Rode OD, Lepej SZ, Begovac J.

HIV-related sexual risk taking among HIV-negative men who have sex with men in Zagreb, Croatia. AIDS Behav 2008; 12(3):505-12.

Stulhofer A, Bacak V, Bozicevic I, Begovac J.

HIV related risks among Croatian migrant workers 2004-2006. AIDS Care 2008; 20(3):361-9.

Stulhofer A.

An Assessment of HIV/STI Vulnerability and Related Sexual Risk-Taking in a Nationally Representative Sample of Young Croatian Adults. Arch Sex Behav 2007; 38(2):209-25.

Stulhofer A, Graham C, Božičević I, Kufrin K, Ajduković D.

HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and sexual behaviors as predictors of condom use among young adults in Croatia. Int Fam Plan Perspect 2007; 33(2):58-65.

Stulhofer A, Graham C, Bozicevic I, Kufrin K, Ajduković D.

HIV/AIDS and Croatian migrant workers. Coll Antropol. 2006; 30 Suppl 2:105-14.

Stulhofer A, Brouillard P, Nikolić N, Greiner N.

Condom use and its consistency among metropolitan high school students in Croatia, 1997-2001: has anything changed? Coll Antropol 2006; 30 Suppl 2:71-8.

Hirsl-Hećej V, Stulhofer A.

Patterns of sexual behaviour and reported symptoms of STI/RTIs among young people in Croatia–implications for interventions’ planning. Coll Antropol 2006; 30 Suppl 2:63-70.

Bozicević I, Stulhofer A, Ajduković D, Kufrin K.

Epidemiological correlates of asymptomatic gonorrhea. Sex Transm Dis 2006; 33(5):289-95.

Bozicevic I, Fenton KA, Martin IM, Rudd EA, Ison CA, Nanchahal K, Wellings K.

Twenty years of human immunodeficiency virus infection in Croatia–an epidemic that is still in an early stage. Coll Antropol 2006; 30 Suppl 2:17-23.

Begovac J, Zekan A, Skoko-Poljak D.

On the road: Croatian truck drivers, commercial sex and HIV/AIDS. Coll Antropol. 2006; 30 Suppl 2:99-103.

Baćak V, Soh D.

Tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients in Croatia between 1986 and 2005. Coll Antropol 2006; 30 Suppl 2:53-8.

Puljiz I, Begovac J.

Marked improvement in survival among adult Croatian AIDS patients after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral treatment. Coll Antropol. 2006; 30(1):175-9.

Begovac J, Lisić M, Lukas D, Maretić T, Kniewald T, Novotny TE.

Research Activities and Publications

Selected research studies:

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