The problem of HIV/AIDS has been a relatively new one in Tajikistan. Closed borders have kept the country and its people isolated from HIV/AIDS during soviet rule. Such isolation has been a blessing, but it became a curse in recent years since it led to a knowledge vacuum that took its toll on the population after the country became independent.

Of all Central Asian countries, Tajikistan shares the longest border with Afghanistan (one of the major producers of illegal drugs in the world). Since the use of IV drugs is the largest contributor to the spread of HIV/AIDS, it was a matter of time before the infection made itself known in Tajikistan.

The first case of HIV/AIDS was registered in 1991. According to AIDS Foundation East West, in 1999 Tajikistan had a total of 4 reported HIV/AIDS infection cases. However, from 2000 to 2005 the number of HIV infections grew at an alarming rate. The worst year so far has been 2004 with 198 new persons being registered as HIV positive. Real number of persons with HIV/AIDS infection is thought to be higher with estimates ranging from 3000 to 5000.

The use of IV drugs has been the largest source of infection accounting for 65.8% of all cases, followed by STD (6.6%) and blood transfusion (2.2%). Men constitute the largest share of HIV infected persons. According to IRIN Asia, out of 228 people registered with HIV/AIDS in 2004 182 (or 79.8%) were men. UNICEF mentions Tajik workforce mobility as a contributing factor to the growth of HIV infection in Tajikistan. It is a quite well-known fact that many young people leave their homes looking for work in Russia.

In effort to curb further spread of the infection several educational programs were launched. In 2004 the United States and the Tajik Defense Ministry launched a program that increases the awareness of soldiers about HIV/AIDS. In 2005 UNICEF started a peer education program, which teaches young people in Dushanbe about HIV/AIDS.