South East Asia HIV & AIDS Statistics Summary

Thailand

Thailand Statistics
Estimated total population, July 2005	64,233,000
Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	580,000
Adults (15+) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	560,000
Women (15+) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	220,000
Children (0-15) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	16,000
Estimated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS, end 2005	1.4%
Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2005	21,000

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. 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.

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 112,000 at the end of 2006, when around 88% of those in need of treatment were receiving it.

Myanmar (Burma)

Myanmar (Burma) Statistics
Estimated total population, July 2005	50,519,000
Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	360,000
Adults (15+) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	350,000
Women (15+) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	110,000
Estimated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS, end 2005	1.3%
Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2005	37,000

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. 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

Cambodia Statistics
Estimated total population, July 2005	14,071,000
Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	130,000
Adults (15+) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	130,000
Women (15+) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	59,000
Estimated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS, end 2005	1.6%
Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2005	16,000

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 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 Statistics
Estimated total population, July 2005	1,315,844,000
Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	650,000
Adults (15+) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	650,000
Women (15+) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	180,000
Estimated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS, end 2005	0.1%
Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2005	31,000

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 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

Viet Nam Statistics
Estimated total population, July 2005	84,238,000
Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	260,000
Adults (15+) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	250,000
Women (15+) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	84,000
Estimated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS, end 2005	0.5%
Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2005	13,000

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. 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

Lao People's Democratic Republic Statistics
Estimated total population, July 2005	5,924,000
Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	3,700
Adults (15+) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	3,600
Women (15+) living with HIV/AIDS, end 2005	<1,000
Estimated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS, end 2005	0.1%
Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2005	<100

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.