HIV risk for Asian women

Around 50 million women in Asia are currently at risk of being infected with HIV, experts have estimated.

A new study from UNAIDS entitled HIV Transmission in Intimate Partner Relationships in Asia has suggested that women with long-term partners in the continent are in danger of contracting the virus.

By last year, women made up 35 per cent of all adult HIV infections in Asia, a rise from 17 per cent 19 years ago.

In addition, more than 90 per cent of these cases have occurred in women with husbands or partners.

Dr Prasada Rao, director of UNAIDS regional support team for Asia and the Pacific, said: "HIV prevention programmes focused on the female partners of men with high-risk behaviours still have not found a place in national HIV plans and priorities in Asian countries.

"Integration of reproductive health programmes with Aids programmes and the delivery of joint services to rural and semi-urban women are the key to reducing HIV transmission among intimate partners."

The report was released at the 9th International Congress on Aids in Asia and the Pacific, which was held in Bali.

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