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This report summarizes the results of a study carried out with the indigenous population of Papua, Indonesia’s easternmost province. The study arose out of a concern with high rates of HIV infection in the province. While research has shown Papuans have a low level of awareness about HIV/AIDS, there have been no studies which situate knowledge of HIV risk and prevention in a broader context of cultural practice and experience. In 2002, the number of HIV/AIDS cases in the Papua reached 1,000; thus awareness and presentation of HIV transmission is of critical importance. About 90% of HIV cases were contracted by heterosexual encounters, with a further 5% by homosexual encounters. This report does not address HIV transmission via intravenous drug use or blood transfusion, or vertical transmission from mother to child.

Breastfeeding transmission is accountable for about one ­third of mother ­to ­child trans­ mission of HIV in developing countries (Mofenson 1997; Nicoll et al., 2000). In developed countries, women with HIV infection are recommended not to breastfeed their children; however, in developing countries, the risk of postnatal HIV transmission has to be balanced against the risk of morbidity and mortality associated with formula feeding. While continuing to support the UNICEF Baby­friendly initiative and to promote universal breastfeeding, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) of Thailand has recommended formula feeding for infants born to mothers with HIV infection since 1993 and has provided free formula to the poorest fraction of the population.

This paper provides a review of the morbidity rates and trends of four communicable diseases in Singapore, namely tuberculosis (TB), sexually transmitted diseases (STD), human immonudeficiency virus (HIV) infection and leprosy.  Data for this paper are obtained from the four National Programmes for the control of these diseases.

The School-based Healthy Living and HIV/AIDS Prevention Education (SHAPE) curriculum was officially launched in 1998. The parallel Ministry of Education Life Skills Secondary School Curriculum was subsequently launched in the year 2000, with additional topics to comply with updated School Health objectives.

At its best, Life skills-based education is simply good quality education, the principles of which can be used to explore a range of topics, however in UNICEF social and health issues are usually the topics explored - for example, peace education/violence prevention, human rights, citizenship, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention.

This study was carried out to determine HIV/STIs prevalence rates among both migrants and non-migrants males from four VDCs around the Sanfebagar valley of Achham district in far-western Nepal. The objectives of this study were also to measure the extent of relationship between the prevalence rates and risk behavior and to ascertain the extent of linkage between migration and HIV/STI transmission in the area. Data for this study was collected from a total of 610 males who were from 800 randomly selected households. From all respondents an oral informed consent was taken before conducting the individual interviews in a private setting. The pathological tests of the specimens were carried out in the central laboratories of SACTS Kathmandu and Auroprobe New Delhi.

Stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS are the greatest barriers to preventing further infections, providing adequate care, support and treatment and alleviating impact. HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination are universal, occurring in every country and region of the world. They are triggered by many forces, including lack of understanding of the disease, myths about how HIV is transmitted, prejudice, lack of treatment, irresponsible media reporting on the epidemic, the fact that AIDS is incurable, social fears about sexuality, fears relating to illness and death, and fears about illicit drugs and injecting drug use. HIV/AIDS-related stigma does not arise out of the blue, nor is it something dreamed up in the minds of individuals. Instead, like responses to diseases such as leprosy, cholera and polio in the past, it plays to deep-rooted social fears and anxieties. Understanding more about these issues, and the social norms they reinforce, is essential to adequately responding to HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination. Otherwise, we run the risk of developing programmes and interventions that are not comprehensive, thus achieving little impact.

Great changes have taken place over the last decade in China. While the country’s GDP has increased more than four-fold, socioeconomic transformations have also contributed to and accelerated the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in China. The likelihood of an HIV epidemic has increased. Based on the latest characteristics of HIV transmission, we have completed a study on the impact of HIV/AIDS on the economy and society in China. This report is the summary report of this study, consisting of the following parts:

1. Socioeconomic factors contributing to HIV epidemic.
2. The estimation the number of HIV/AIDS cases by the end of 2001 and projection the trend over the next decade.
3. An analysis of the socioeconomic impact of AIDS on three levels: family, health sector and macroeconomics.
4. Recommendations on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.

This study was carried out to determine HIV/STI prevalence rates among both migrant and nonmigrant males from two VDCs of Kailali district in far-western Nepal. It was further set up to measure the extent of relationship between the rates and risk behaviors and to ascertain the extent of linkage between migration and HIV/STI transmission in the area. Data for this study was collected from a total of 610 males who were from 800 randomly selected households. From all respondents oral informed consent was taken before conducting individual interviews in a private setting. The pathological tests of the specimens were carried out in the central laboratories of SACTS Kathmandu and Auroprobe New Delhi. 

The HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome) epidemic in India is a rapidly escalating crisis. The government’s estimate that about 4 million persons in the country are HIV-positive is widely thought to understate the true figure. Throughout the country, persons in traditionally high-risk groups, including women in prostitution, injecting drug users, and men who have sex with men, have been shown to have alarmingly high rates of infection. In several states of India, such as Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the epidemic has spread to the general population. Programs that provide information, condoms and HIV testing to persons in high-risk groups are crucial to preventing the further spread of the disease. This report demonstrates that such programs, so essential to the fight against HIV/AIDS in India, are undermined by police harassment and abuse of HIV/AIDS outreach workers, particularly those who provide essential information and services to women in prostitution and men who have sex with men. Human Rights Watch’s research on this subject, carried out in March and April 2002 in several states of India, indicates that these abuses are frequent and widespread. Police mistreatment of AIDS educators and outreach workers reflects underlying social stigmatization and discrimination faced regularly by women in prostitution and men who have sex with men.