Risk factors for HIV transmission in Asia and the Pacific
Brown, T.; Mulhall, B.; Sittitrai, W.
Aids 8(Suppl 2): S173-S182
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0269-9370 PMID: 7857561 Document Number: 291021
One may be at risk of contracting HIV in Asia and the Pacific through unprotected heterosexual or homosexual intercourse, receiving infected blood in a transfusion, and/or the use HIV-contaminated injection equipment. The initial spread of HIV may be more rapid among IV drug users and men who have sex with men, but heterosexual infections will eventually dominate in the region. That will be so due to the large male segments of populations in the region which engage in casual and commercial sex without condom use. Many man become infected by prostitutes during sexual intercourse and then infect their steady female partners and wives. When heterosexual transmission of HIV becomes the dominant mode of infection throughout Asia and the Pacific, the second highest level of risk behavior in the region may well be blood transfusion unless the largest countries of the region expand coverage of their screening practices. Risk behaviors for HIV infection exist to some extent in every country of the region, but in most countries that extent is largely unknown. Solid behavioral research is therefore urgently needed to determine national levels of risk behaviors and their distribution throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Complacency among policymakers will only benefit the epidemic, for it would be a mistake to assume that the epidemic will remain small in a country simply because data are not available on risk behaviors or the extent of HIV spread. This paper presents data on sexual risk behaviors; IV drug use; blood transfusions, medical injections, and traditional practices; special populations; AIDS/HIV knowledge; and other STDs.