National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS: Republic of Maldives (2007 – 2011)

Maldives has so far experienced a low level HIV epidemic. A recent situation analysis "The HIV/AIDS Situation in the Republic of the Maldives in 2006" has pointed out several factors that demonstrate vulnerability to an increasing epidemic: increasing drug use, increasing injecting drug use and the presence of hidden populations of commercial sex and men who have sex with men in the archipelago. The population of the Republic is young, the age of marriage is increasing, serial monogamy is common, condom use is limited, non-emergency blood transfusions are common and men often spend extended periods away from their home islands. Surveillance of sexually transmitted infections has not so far been undertaken in a manner that enables establishment of proper trends.