HIV in Thailand Part 2 of 2
History of HIV Thailand part 2 of 2
2000 UNAIDS/WHO Epidemiological Fact Sheet
http://www.unaids.org/hivaidsinfo/statistics/june00/fact_sheets/pdfs/thailand.pdf
Assessment of epidemiological situation – Thailand - Just Higlights
In Bangkok, HIV prevalence among sex workers tested (both direct and indirect combined) has ranged from 7 to 18 percent between 1990 and 1996. Since 1994, HIV prevalence in this group has declined slightly from 13 percent to 7 percent in 1997. Outside of Bangkok, HIV prevalence among sex workers tested (both direct and indirect) increased from 5 percent to 20 percent. HIV prevalence rates are highest in the northern provinces ranging from 16 to 57 percent among direct sex workers.
In Bangkok, in late 1987, one percent of IV drug users were HIV positive. By the end of 1988, that rate had increased to 30 percent. Since 1988, HIV prevalence among IV drug users tested has remained between 20 and 45 percent both in and outside of Bangkok.
Among antenatal clinic attendees tested in Bangkok, HIV prevalence increased from 0.2 percent in 1990 to 2 percent in 1994. In 1997, 1 percent of antenatal clinic women tested were HIV positive. Outside of Bangkok, HIV prevalence among antenatal clinic attendees increased from no infection detected in 1990 to two percent in 1994. HIV prevalence among this group has reached as high as 10 percent in provinces in the north.
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HIV/AIDS: Slow rate of infection seen in 2000 But slight increase among prostitutes
Bangkok Post - February 9, 2001
Dave notes: Prostitutes are those working in Thai brothels which few non Thai's ever see, not those working in Entertainment Establishments being offered "special services (sex) which is not prostitution.
Thailand's HIV infection rate slowed last year, but the spread of the deadly disease among prostitutes increased slightly, the Public Health Ministry said.
Despite the welcomed news that efforts to halt the spread of HIV appear to be successful, health experts warned the figures may be just a statistical blip.
They said it was essential the successful awareness and prevention programmes were maintained.
The ministry said random tests performed on blood donors, pregnant women and men attending sexually-transmitted disease clinics last year found that incidence rates had fallen.
Among drug addicts, 47.2% were infected compared to 50.8% the year before, and men being treated for venereal disease reported a 5.9% incidence compared to 9.1% previously.
In the group of brothel-based prostitutes, however, infection rates rose to 18.5% from 16%.
Dave again: brothel-based prostitutes are only the brothels, which few foreigners ever see and most are in the North Country.
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2/01 [Infections down]
Aids continues to slow its progress in Thailand -- except for prostitutes in brothels. The latest figures from the healthy ministry cover the January-June period of last year. They show 12,389 new cases in hospitals around the country -- compared with 22,267 in 1999. The main fears are that everyone will think the epidemic has ended, or that the figures are simply a statistical blip.
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A Thai on a private list said:
I worked at a major medical center in Chiang Mai for a month in February last year. Now, I thought I'd come across all kinds of AIDS cases as I was in the North and well, in a hospital!! You know, the whole month I was there I treated ONE AIDS patient. Now, I'm not denying there are AIDS cases and HIV, but I believe WHO and the CDC have been guilty time and time again of overinflating AIDS cases.
Yes indeed they said that the HIV rate was high, like 30%, in the *northern provinces* among sex workers. In other words the girls who fuck a conga line of unprotected, probably-std-infected Thai men.
