SIDA & VIH
South East Asia HIV & AIDS Statistics
Thailand
| Thailand AIDS Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Estimated total population, July 2008 | 65,493,000 |
| Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 2007 | 610,000 |
| Proportion of adults with HIV/AIDS who are women, end 2007 | 42% |
| Children (0-15) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2007 | 14,000 |
| Estimated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS, end 2007 |
1.4% |
| Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2007 | 31,000 |
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. HIV prevalence in Thailand remains the highest in the region.
Thailand was one of the first countries in Asia to offer both first- and second-line antiretroviral treatment regimens. Lower drug prices have contributed to a rapid 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, to more than 72,000 at the end of 2005, and finally to 153,000 at the end of 2007.
Myanmar (Burma)
| Myanmar (Burma) AIDS Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Estimated total population, July 2008 | 47,758,000 |
| Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 2007 | 240,000 |
| Proportion of adults with HIV/AIDS who are women, end 2007 | 42% |
| Estimated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS, end 2007 | 0.7% |
| Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2007 | 24,000 |
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 subgroup.
The epidemic, although showing signs of a decline recently, is still a concern among young people and those at high risk. Although there has been a considerable response focused on programmes to prevent infections among at risk groups, their effects are not yet noticeable. In 2006 HIV prevalence among these groups showed 34% of sex workers and 43% of injecting drug users tested HIV-positive 1.
Cambodia
| Cambodia AIDS Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Estimated total population, July 2008 | 14,242,000 |
| Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 2007 | 75,000 |
| Proportion of adults with HIV/AIDS who are women, end 2007 | 29% |
| Estimated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS, end 2007 | 0.8% |
| Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2007 | 6,900 |
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 is now the second 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 21% between 1998 and 2003.
China
| China AIDS Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Estimated total population, July 2008 | 1,330,045,000 |
| Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 2007 | 700,000 |
| Proportion of adults with HIV/AIDS who are women, end 2007 | 29% |
| Estimated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS, end 2007 | 0.1% |
| Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2007 | 39,000 |
China’s first AIDS case was reported in Beijing in 1985. 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 that slightly fewer than half the people living with HIV in China in 2006 are believed to have been infected through use of contaminated injecting drug use equipment. 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, fuelled 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 sex workers who reported not using a condom with their most recent client increased from 69% in 2005 to 82% in 2007. 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
| Viet Nam AIDS Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Estimated total population, July 2008 | 86,117,000 |
| Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 2007 | 290,000 |
| Proportion of adults with HIV/AIDS who are women, end 2007 | 27% |
| Estimated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS, end 2007 | 0.5% |
| Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2007 | 20,000 |
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. The estimated number of people living with HIV in Viet Nam has more than doubled between 2000 and 2005 from 120,000 to 260,000, with the majority of reported HIV infections occurring among injecting drug users. Prevalence of HIV among this group increased from 9% in 1996 to about 34% in 2005.
There is evidence however that many drug users are using sterile injecting equipment since it has been made legal and cheap, with 89% between 2005 and 2007 reporting to have used sterile equipment.
Lao People's Democratic Republic
| Lao People's Democratic Republic AIDS Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Estimated total population, July 2008 | 6,678,000 |
| Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 2007 | 5,500 |
| Proportion of adults with HIV/AIDS who are women, end 2007 | 24% |
| Estimated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS, end 2007 | 0.2% |
| Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2007 | <100 |
The first case of HIV infection in the Lao People's Democratic Republic was found in 1990 and the first AIDS case was 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 – 89% reported using a condom with their most recent client in 2008. About two thirds of the police and military, and three quarters of truck drivers, said they always used condoms with a paid partner.
Although these are signs that the country is making promising advances there was an increase of 4300 cases of HIV infection in adults and children between 2001 and 2005.
