HIV was first detected in 1991 during serological screening of donated blood. Cambodia appears to be experiencing relative success in the fight against HIV. After peaking at approximately 3.3% in 1997-98, HIV prevalence among the adult population aged 15-49 years declined to 1.2% in 2001 and further down to 0.5% in 2009 [1]. According to National Centre for HIV & AIDS, Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (NCHADS), the declines could be attributed to increased condom use among, and health service provision for people living with HIV. By the end of 2009, an estimated 63,000 adults and children were living with HIV, and more than half (35,000) were women 15 years and older [1].

HIV transmission in Cambodia occurs primarily through sexual intercourse. Under the baseline modelling scenario, HIV prevalence was particularly high among female sex workers (FSWs) in the capital city, Phnom Penh, and some major provinces in the early 90s [2]. Since then, most of the infected cases have occurred via heterosexual transmission between FSWs and their clients. In turn, clients of sex workers have transmitted the virus to their wives or girlfriends. In addition, one-third of new infections occurred through vertical transmission - from mother to child.

Cambodia is confronted with vulnerability and risk factors as follows: low condom use among men in casual sex, and among sex workers in non-commercial sex; fear of prosecution especially with the enactment of the Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation (2008), which had caused many FSWs to evade prevention services, including the 100% Condom Use Program [3]; fear of spousal violence that prevents many women from accessing counselling and testing services in antenatal clinics; and sexual violence committed against sex workers [4].

Sources:

[1] UNAIDS, Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, 2010

[2] The Cambodia working group on HIV/AIDS Projection. Projection for HIV/AIDS in Cambodia, November 2002

[3] IRIN/PlusNews, Cambodia: Human trafficking crackdown also hits HIV prevention. Phnom Penh, 21 October 2008; Agence France Presse, Cambodia faces new HIV threat as ‘condom campaign at risk.  Phnom Penh, 10 September 2008; as cited by Pearshouse R, “Cambodia: human trafficking legislation threatens HIV response”. HIV/AIDS Policy & Law Review, 2008 Dec;13(2-3):21-2

[4] Duvurry N, Knoess, J, “Gender Based Violence in Cambodia: Links, Opportunities and Potential Responses,” WHO, Global Campaign for Violence Prevention, International Center for Research on Women, German Development Agency (GTZ), August 2005