What's New

In February 2012, there were 274 new HIV Ab seropositive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry (Table 1). This was 72% higher compared to the same period last year (n=159 in 2011), and the highest number of cases ever reported in the registry [Figure 1].

Thailand was one of the few countries to have demonstrated success in the 1990s in slowing down the spread of the HIV epidemic – largely due to its policy of 100% condom use in the commercial sex industry. Indeed, Thailand has had one of the most effective national responses to the HIV epidemic in the world, particularly in the scale and scope of widespread impact.

The first HIV-positive case was reported in the country in 1990 and the first AIDS case in 1992. In 2010, Lao PDR reported 612 HIV cases, 366 AIDS cases and 132 deaths due to AIDS-related illness. Cumulatively since 1992, there have been 2736 AIDS cases and 1170 AIDS-related deaths. Among the reported HIV cases, women made up 45% of the total.

The AIDS Surveillance Committee holds a quarterly meeting on the trends in new cases of HIV infection and AIDS cases in Japan, and are port is published annually that compiles data on new cases based on anonymous reports from all prefectures. Physicians who diagnose HIV infection (without AIDS symptoms) or AIDS patients have to submit the case report to the prefectures. The case report includes the result of HIV testing, major symptoms, and diagnosis, gender, age, nationality, resident area, transmission route and place, date of diagnosis.

Across the world, many countries and legal jurisdictions have adopted HIV-specific laws or invoked general criminal law to prosecute individuals who allegedly fail to disclose their HIV status prior to sexual relations (HIV non-disclosure), expose others to HIV (HIV exposure), and/or transmit HIV to others (HIV transmission). Although the exact number of initiated and completed prosecutions for HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission is unknown, the Global Network of People Living with HIV has identified some 600 known convictions for HIV non-disclosure, exposure or transmission, the great majority of which have taken place in high income countries. Over the years, many advocates, human rights and public health experts, and people living with HIV have voiced their concerns about the nature and impact of the criminalisation of HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission. Legal criticism against these laws and practices points to the facts that they are often not informed by evidence relating to HIV, disregard generally applicable criminal law principles, and have resulted in disproportionately harsh sentences in several cases. Public health concerns relate to the facts that there is no evidence that the criminal law is an effective tool for HIV prevention, while there is some indication that fear of prosecution discourages people from getting tested for HIV or disclosing their HIV status.

From 1-23 February 2012, the Asia Pacific Community of Practice on HIV, Gender and Human Rights (HIV-APCoP) held an e-discussion on Key Affected Women and Girls in Asia and the Pacific with the primary objective of stimulating dialogue to ensure proper policy attention is paid to key affected women and girls in the context of HIV.

Tuvalu formerly known as the Ellice Islands is located in the South Pacific, just to the north of the Fiji Islands. It is the smallest independent country in the South Pacific, comprising of nine low lying coral atolls with a population of 9561. Tuvalu reported its first case of HIV in 1995. Since then there has been 11 confirmed cases of which four have died (all were males and the deaths occurred in the years 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011).

In January 2012, there were 212 new HIV Ab seropositive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry (Table 1). This was 39% higher compared to the same period last year (n=152 in 2011) [Figure 1].

This report provides biological and behavioral information on HIV among mine workers in Balochistan from a survey conducted in September 2011 in the mining areas of Muslim Bagh, Sorange and Mach. The purpose of the study was to collect, analyze and disseminate accurate information on the prevalence of key risk behaviors and of HIV among mine workers to deliver sustained and effective HIV prevention, treatment care and support services.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is under-reported and under-researched in Vietnam (Gardsbane et al. 2010). Several small-scale studies revealed that the prevalence of GBV in Vietnam ranges widely from 16 to 37 percent for physical violence, and 19 to 55 percent for emotional violence, while sexual violence and sexual harassment are rarely reported (Jonzon et al. 2007; Nguyen 2006; Vu et al. 1999). A 2006 national survey with 9,300 households reported that in the preceding 12 months, 21.2 percent of families had reported at least one of the three forms of violence (physical, verbal, coerced sex); husbands were the most frequent perpetrators (Huong 2008). In everyday life, verbal abuse, slapping, and coerced or forced sex are often not considered violence in Vietnam (United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA] 2007).