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Thailand
After peaking at around 140,000 cases in 1991, the number of new HIV infections in Thailand declined to an estimated 21,000 in 2003. This dramatic fall was mainly due to increased condom use by men and a reduction in their use of brothels. However, there is mounting evidence that HIV is now spreading largely among the spouses and partners of clients of sex workers, and among injecting drug users. It is estimated that in 2002, 50% of infections were the result of heterosexual transmission in cohabiting partnerships; 20% due to injecting drug use; 15% transmitted from mother to child; and 15% were associated with commercial sex. Alongside India, Thailand is one of only two countries in Asia to offer both first- and second-line antiretroviral treatment regimens. Lower drug prices have contributed to a fivefold increase in the number of HIV-positive people receiving antiretroviral treatment in Thailand, from about 2,500 in November 2002 to 15,000 in November 2003. The target for 2004 is 50,000. Myanmar (Burma)
In 2004, Myanmar stands on the brink of what may be one of the most serious epidemics in Asia. Among the three Asian countries hardest hit by the epidemic, only in Myanmar do national HIV infection rates continue to rise. Myanmar is one of the least densely populated countries in Asia, with more than three-quarters of the population living in small villages, often isolated. The spread of the HIV infection across the country varies widely by geographical location and by population sub group. Of all AIDS cases reported with known mode of HIV transmission up until the end of 2003, 65% were due to heterosexual contact, 26% to injecting drug use, and 5% to contaminated blood. Among injecting drug users, the median HIV prevalence in six sentinel sites in 2003 was 48%, ranging from 23% to 77%. Among commercial sex workers, the HIV prevalence in Yangoon and Mandalay was 33% and 53.6% respectively in 2003. Cambodia
The first case of HIV infection in Cambodia was reported in 1991 and was followed by a rapid rise in transmission. Cambodia's national HIV prevalence rate - around 3% since 1997 - is the highest in Asia. HIV is transmitted primarily through sexual contact and the highest HIV prevalence is observed among female sex workers in the capital. Recent efforts to halt the spread of the epidemic, including a programme promoting 100% condom use, have enjoyed some success. Figures indicate that HIV prevalence amongst brothel-based sex workers dropped from 43% to 29% between 1998 and 2002. China
China is experiencing one of the most rapidly expanding HIV epidemics in the world. Since 1999, there has been a 30% annual rate of increase of reported HIV infections. Based on this calculation, it is projected that the number people living with HIV/AIDS in China will exceed 10 million by 2010, if there is not enough effort to control the epidemic. The most frequent modes of HIV transmission have been injecting drug use in southern and western China and unsafe practices among paid blood donors. Surveys have found HIV prevalence among injecting drug users to be 35-80% in Xinjiang and 20% in Guangdong. In rural areas where people earned money donating blood plasma in the early 1990s, infection levels of 10-20% have been found, rising to 60% in certain communities. Heterosexually transmitted HIV is occurring primarily in the eastern provinces of China, fueled by an increasing commercial sex trade and by the large number of migrants moving to these provinces in search of labour. The percentage of female prostitutes who do not use condoms decreased from 66.7% in 1999 to 37.4% in 2001. HIV has been identified in some urban areas among men who have sex with men but this population is stigmatized and is difficult to survey. Viet Nam
Since the first HIV case in Viet Nam was reported in 1990, the number of infections has grown rapidly in all provinces. Like China, Vietnam's transition to a market economy was accompanied by an increase in injecting drug use and commercial sex. In 2000, while the majority of reported HIV infections occurred among injecting drug users (63% of cumulative numbers), estimates indicate that the majority of HIV infections are sexually transmitted (81%). There is evidence that many drug users share injecting equipment, despite the fact that clean equipment has been made legally and cheaply available. Surveillance in 2002 found that 20% of injecting drug users in most provinces were HIV-positive. Prevalence rates have also increased among female sex workers to 11% in Can Tho, 15% in Hanoi and 24% in Ho Chi Minh City. Lao People's Democratic Republic
The first case of HIV infection in the Lao People's Democratic Republic was found in 1990 and the first AIDS case reported in 1992. The majority of HIV infections identified since then have been in persons suspected of having acquired their infection outside of the country via heterosexual intercourse. Injecting drug use is believed to be very low or non-existent, but no studies have been conducted to confirm this impression. Overall, less than 1% of indirect sex workers tested in 2000 were found to be HIV-positive. One of the reasons for the fairly low prevalence rates in the Lao People's Democratic Republic might be that consistent condom use is comparatively high amongst female sex workers - 73% in 2000. About two thirds of the police and military, and three quarters of truck drivers, said they always used condoms with a paid partner. AVERT.org has many other HIV & AIDS statistics pages and a guide to understanding the statistics. Page amended by Rob Noble, September 2004. Sources:
Last updated December 23, 2004 |