Publications

HIV prevalence in the country during the period January-December 2004 based on sentinel surveillance data.

Generally, national HIV prevalence in China remains low, but clusters of high prevalence exist, both geographically and among specific sub-groups. By the end of 2003, the cumulative number of HIV cases was estimated 840,000, corresponding to a total prevalence rate of 0.07%. By the end of September 2004, the cumulative number of reported HIV positive cases was 89,067, with significant increases in reported infections since 2002. On December 1, 2003, the China Ministry of Health and the UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS jointly issued an Assessment of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in China. Given the rapid changes that have occurred since that date, it was decided that an update of the Joint Assessment Report would be prepared by representatives of the State Council AIDS Working Committee Office and the UN system, covering the period to December 1, 2004.

In 2003, more than 5 million people were newly infected with HIV – as many as 700,000 (13%) of them were children. Six hundred and thirty thousand (95%) of these new infections were caused through mother-to-child transmission, and 90% of the infected children live in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS case reporting is unreliable, however it is estimated that 500,000 children are currently in need of antiretroviral therapy (ARV) world wide. In 2003 some 490,000 child deaths under age 14 were due to AIDS, and an estimated 17% of all AIDS deaths were among children. There are 7 countries where AIDS accounts for more than 10% of the under five mortality. The best way to address paediatric HIV infection is to significantly reduce the proportion of children acquiring infection as has happened in most developed countries to date. UNICEF and WHO convened a meeting of technical experts to urgently identify ways and mechanisms to overcome the key obstacles to access of appropriate, acceptable, and affordable ARV formulations for children.

Hong Kong, located in Asia the new burning place of HIV infection, is still having a relatively low prevalence of HIV infection. While sexual transmission is the predominant route of transmission in Hong Kong, an upsurge of infection in injecting drug users is a concern from the experience in other Asian localities. Various public health measures in Hong Kong have kept the HIV prevalence of drug users at low level, as compared with neighbouring cities.

The objective was to describe the causes of initial and overall AIDS-defining disease episodes among HIV patients in Singapore. A retrospective observational cohort study was performed of all adult patients seen at the national HIV referral center between 1985 and 2001. Data were extracted from the patients' records by ten trained healthcare workers. AIDS-defining conditions were established using predefined criteria.

The 2003 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) is a nationally representative survey of 13,945 women age 15-49 and 5,009 men age 15-54. The main purpose of the 2003 NDHS is to provide policymakers and program managers with detailed information on fertility, family planning, childhood and adult mortality, maternal and child health, and knowledge and attitudes related to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.

One of the most widespread approaches to behaviour change used in the battle against HIV/AIDS has been information, education and communication (IEC) campaigns focused on raising awareness about the virus and avoiding behaviours associated with increased risk. The basic intention of HIV/AIDS & STI information materials is to inform, inspire, and communicate with people to deepen their understanding and change their behaviour around the prevention, care and/or treatment of HIV/AIDS. These materials usually assume, explicitly or implicitly, that people can learn from written or visual information and then change their attitudes and behaviour. A review of the HIV/AIDS & STI information material available in the Pacific region was undertaken to determine the range and quality of currently available IEC materials used in HIV prevention programs as well as assess the need to develop new materials. The review also provided complimentary data on training and capacity development needs (outside of IEC) for the Pacific Regional HIV/AIDS Initiative and other technical and regional agencies. 

The survey is a follow up to the baseline reproductive health survey of 1999. It provides information for evaluating the five-year Reproductive Health Programme of the Ministry of Health and the Department of Public Health as well as new information about adolescent sexual and reproductive health to guide future programmes aimed at youth. The survey was commissioned by the Ministry of Health and was carried out by the Health Information and Research Unit (HIRU) of the Ministry of Health with technical support from CIETinternational and funding and support from UNFPA Maldives.

HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Viet Nam are escalating and HIV-infections are spreading from high-risk behaviour groups to the general population. This situation translates into larger numbers of women becoming infected with HIV and rising numbers of infants at risk of being infected by their mothers during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding.  The fact that breastfeeding is one of the potential routes of transmission has created a difficult dilemma for policy makers and parents since in resource poor setting not breastfeeding represents another risk to infant health and life. Global guidelines addressing this dilemma of infant feeding in the context of HIV exist, but countries need to develop approaches that take into account their particular circumstances.

South Asia stands out as the region with the second largest number of HIV infections in the world. HIV is now found in every country in South Asia. No longer can any society in the region consider itself immune to the virus. The newest global HIV/AIDS estimates indicate there are more than 5.2 million people living with HIV and AIDS in South Asia. With almost one-quarter of the world's population, the region is now home to some of the world's fastest growing AIDS epidemics. As the pandemic matures in South Asia, an emerging trend that demands our full attention is that of children living in families who are affected by HIV/AIDS or are orphaned by AIDS. The impact on a child of losing one or both parents to AIDS has been well documented around the world. These children are more likely to be impoverished, to miss out on educational opportunities, and are at greater risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination. Though more research is required in South Asia, studies and experience suggest that children orphaned by AIDS in this region also have their basic rights violated or unfulfilled.