Admin Saovaluck
|
I don't know anyone who is affected by AIDS, but below is a statement from the United Nations in Laos.
Overview of HIV/AIDS Situation in Lao PDR
Overall, the Lao PDR remains a low prevalence country with an estimated 0.2% HIV seroprevalence in the adult population. The first HIV positive case was reported in 1990 and the first case of AIDS in 1992. At the end of 2007, the official cumulative number of people identified with HIV was 2,630, of whom 1,675 were known to be living with AIDS (among these, 881 were under ARV treatment). 57% of reported HIV cases were male and 43% female. Based on cumulative HIV case reports, more than 77% of those infected are between the ages of 20 and 39 years. Of those whose mode of transmission was known, main mode was through heterosexual sex (85%).
While the officially reported HIV cases show an expected “underreporting” bias, one fact is remarkable: the number of reported AIDS cases and AIDS deaths is much higher than the estimated number of AIDS based on a prevalence of 0.2%. This suggests that either a group with a relatively high HIV prevalence was not captured in the surveillance, and/or that the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Lao PDR started much earlier than assumed.
Although HIV prevalence remains low, there is evidence of an expanding epidemic among the most vulnerable groups, especially sex workers and their clients, and men who have sex with men (MSM). The main determinants of HIV transmission in Lao PDR are increasing numbers of sex workers and clients, MSM, high prevalence of STIs, and increasing behaviours that are likely to involve HIV transmission such as increased number of multiple sexual partners, low condom use, and poor health seeking behaviour. As a recent phenomenon, injecting drug use is increasing and there is growing concern that it may further accelerate the epidemic in Lao PDR.
As reiterated in several reports, low levels of awareness, limited access to prevention and protection, including condoms, heighten the risk of rising prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Lao PDR. Other factors such as the low socio -economic status of women, high levels of poverty and a widening generation gap compound the risk of spread of the disease. Increased population mobility, internal and external labour migration and changes in lifestyles and sexual behaviour are all important ingredients for an accelerated spread of the epidemic.
|