AIDS in the Pacific Islands
Osuga, K.; Chang, C.
Aids 8(Suppl 2): S111-S116
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0269-9370 PMID: 7857553 Document Number: 290928
21 countries and territories comprise the Pacific Island region. The region's total population was estimated to be 2.5 million in 1993, ranging from 710,000 in Fiji to 55 in Pitcairn, a British protectorate. Micronesians, Polynesians, and Melanesians are the three major ethnic groups. By December 1, 1993, there were 99 cumulative officially reported AIDS cases and 318 HIV infections. HIV surveillance in the Pacific Island countries has, however, been quite limited. These figures, for example, are based upon the diagnosis of HIV infection reported from only 12 of the region's countries and territories. 26% of the reported HIV infections were acquired through heterosexual contact, 38% from sex between men, 9% from IV drug use, and 6% from blood transfusions. In Fiji, 10 of the reported 17 HIV infections were acquired through heterosexual contact, whereas in French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Guam, 35-40% of HIV infections occurred through sex between men. Despite the lack of complete data on HIV and AIDS for the region, one may conclude that relative to most other parts of the world, the number of HIV and AIDS cases reported in the Pacific Islands remains low. The Pacific Island populations are, however, quite small, so small numbers of infected individuals may be somewhat deceptive. French Polynesia, Guam, and New Caledonia have higher per capita case rates than New Zealand. Much has been done to raise public awareness about HIV and AIDS in the region, blood donations are routinely screened, and confidential or anonymous counseling and HIV-antibody testing are available in all of the countries. Free condoms are available at government health centers and condom social marketing programs have been initiated in three Pacific Island countries. Even so, the following conditions remain to facilitate the rapid transmission of HIV: STDs are extremely common in many of the Pacific Island countries; there is much international travel and migration; there are social, cultural, and religious barriers against HIV, STD, and sex education; there is debate over whether discussing sex and making condoms available promotes promiscuity; women are not empowered to negotiate safer sex; and a large proportion of the population is under 25 years old.