Cambodia and the Threat of HIV

Here are a few statistics concerning Cambodia and AIDS you may not be aware of. Cambodia has the second highest rate of HIV in Asia. With an estimated population of 14.2 million people, there are approximately 75,000 who are currently living with HIV/AIDS. Of those affected, almost thirty percent are women. Last year, close to 7,000 of those affected succumbed to AIDS. HIV was first reported in Cambodia in 1991 and since then, the rate of HIV infections has risen tremendously, especially amongst the women who work in the sex trade.

Until recently, Cambodia experienced success with a 100% condom use program that sought to provide condoms for workers in the sex industry and to promote sex education. In fact, according to some statistics, between 1998 and 2002, the rate at which HIV was transmitted was decreased from 43% to 29%. However, according to Tia Phalla, who works for Cambodia’s National AIDS Authority, the 100% condom program “is facing difficulties” due to a lack of financial support and newly established laws banning sex trafficking. Because of this, many in Cambodia are worried that these threats to the program could cause the country to step backwards in terms of all of the progress they have made in slowing down the spread of HIV.

The new law was passed a few months back in February and Cambodian police were quick to jump on cracking down on the brothels. According to some reports, as sex workers were pushed out of their brothels into new ones, their condoms and contraceptives were left behind. Phalla added at an AIDS conference in Phnom Penh, “Enforcement of the anti-trafficking law harms the 100 percent condom use in brothels.” This is added to the fact that AIDS authority data has shown that the rate of prostitutes who had been consistently using condoms during their business with clients ha already dropped two points from 96% in 2003 to 94% in 2007. Phalla also pointed out at the conference that of the 24 cities and provinces of Cambodia, only six of these have the financial ability to carry out and continue the 100% condom use program.

The AIDS authority recently issued the following statement: “The main risk of a second wave of HIV infections occurring in Cambodia is from female sex workers, their clients and sweethearts.” This is definitely bad news for the country that currently has the second highest rate of HIV/AIDS in all of Asia. Before the 100% condom use program was initiated, Cambodia possessed the highest/worst HIV rate compared to all of its surrounding regions. Over 10 years ago in 1997, the rate hit its highest point at 3.7 percent. In addition, the HIV rate of sex workers at this time was estimated to be close to 40 percent. Once the 100% condom use program was initiated, however, Cambodia boasted a very large HIV rate drop to just below 1 percent.