HIV-APCoP’s World AIDS Day Quiz

The correct answer is 35%. “The proportion of women living with HIV increased from 21% in 1990 to 36% of all adults living with HIV in 2002. Since then it has stabilized at about 35%, substantially below the global average of 52%.” (HIV in Asia and the Pacific: Getting to Zero, UNAIDS, 2011 p90). While the numbers have stabilized and remain low, recent studies such as the ‘Socio-Economic Impact of HIV at the Household Level in Asia: A Regional Analysis of the Impact on Women and Girls’ show that women from HIV affected households shoulder additional economic burdens and burden of care for the sick as compared with men from similar households and women from households not affected by HIV. In order to remain committed to the HIV needs of women and girls, UNZIP www.unzipthelips.org - a platform to articulate the needs of key affected women and girl was launched this year in Busan at the 11th ICAAP, by the Coalition of Asia Pacific Regional Networks on HIV/AIDS (7Sisters) together with supporting partners and activists across the region.

The correct answer is India, China, Cambodia and Thailand, respectively (HIV and AIDS Data Hub for Asia-Pacific). According to recent studies (see, HIV Transmission in Intimate Partner Relationships in Asia, UNAIDS, 2009) that have been conducted a significant proportion of women living with HIV acquired the infection through unprotected sex with their regular male partners.

The answer is 19 (HIV in Asia and the Pacific: Getting to Zero, UNAIDS, 2011 p90). Increase in HIV infections among men who have sex with men is a serious concern for the region. According to a recent study conducted by UNDP (Towards Universal Access: Examples of Municipal HIV Programming for Men who have Sex with Men and Transgender People in six Asian cities, UNDP, 2011) evidence point to a significant increase of infections in many of the major cities in the region including Bangkok, from 17% in 2003 to 31% in 2010, Ho Chi Minh City, from 5.3% in 2006 to 14.8% in 2009, and Jakarta, from 2% in 2003 to 8.1% in 2007. While Chengdu, Manila and Yangon also show very high prevalence rates. However, the percentage of MSM who have access to HIV, prevention treatment care and support remains significantly low. “Data on the coverage of HIV services reported by countries of the Asia Pacific region confirm that only between 9 percent and 20 percent of MSM are reached by HIV prevention services” (see, Legal Environments, human rights and HIV responses among men who have sex with men and transgender people in Asia and the Pacific, UNDP, 2011).Punitive laws that criminalize men who have sex with men and transgender populations hinder effective HIV prevention and access to life saving HIV medicines.

The correct answer is all of the above (Regional Issues Brief on Rights of Women and Girls for the For the Asia-Pacific Regional Dialogue of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, 17 February 2011, Bangkok, Thailand, UNDP 2011). During the last few decades many countries in the region has taken positive steps to reform inheritance laws that historically disadvantaged females and increased their vulnerability to HIV. However many of these progressive laws are not effectively implemented. According to recent studies conducted in India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and China, on the socio economic impacts of HIV (Socio-economic impact of HIV on women and girls in Asia and the Pacific, UNDP: 2011) HIV affected widows were more likely of being denied access to their husband’s property. Access to inheritance and property rights impacts women’s ability to cope with the impacts of the epidemic.

The answer is young injecting drug users (2009 UNGASS reports). In China the figure is at 29% for young injecting drug users compared with 43% for MSM and 34% for female sex workers. In Vietnam it is only 18% for young injecting drug users as compared with 32% for sex workers and in India it is 21% compared to 38% sex workers. It has to be noted that both in India and Vietnam more young injecting drug users are tested than young men who have sex with men. An, estimated 50,000 young people aged 15-24 are living with HIV in the region. This means, while overall HIV prevalence is low, HIV is concentrated among young people. To response to these challenges a regional network called YouthLEAD was formed bringing together young people from key affected populations across the region.

The correct answer is 29 (HIV in Asia and the Pacific: Getting to Zero, UNAIDS, 2011 p90). Most countries in the region criminalizes some aspect of sex work, pushing sex workers further underground and making it harder for them to access HIV, prevention, treatment and care.

The correct answer is 32%, with 93% coverage in Europe and Central Asia, 54% coverage in Latin America and Caribbean, and about 3% coverage in North Africa and the Middle East (Towards universal access: Scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions in the health sector). “Providing pregnant women living with HIV with antiretroviral prevention and treatment reduces the risk of the child becoming infected with HIV to less than 5%- and keeps the mother alive.” (HIV in Asia the and Pacific: Getting to Zero, UNAIDS, 2011). A recent study conducted by APN+ with support from UNICEF and UNAIDS on access to reproductive and maternal health care for women living with HIV in Asia, noted high level of stigma and discrimination and sometimes violence faced by women as a key challenge hampering women’s access to HIV treatment care and support.

The answer is India, Indonesia and Vietnam. According to a UNFPA study on health sector responses to gender-based violence in the region (see, Health Sector Response to Gender-based Violence: an assessment of the Asia Pacific Region), a majority of countries have enacted laws on domestic violence. However, implementation of these laws remains inconsistent. While research is needed to explore the linkages between HIV and GBV in the region, it is clear from recent research such as the Regional Analysis: People Living with HIV Stigma Index Asia Pacific, that women living with HIV do face a lot of violence. Further work is needed to ensure that laws on gender-based violence are properly enforced.

The correct answer is 15 (HIV in Asia and the Pacific: Getting to Zero, UNAIDS, 2011 p90). Travel restrictions have particular implications for migrant workers. Research conducted by UNDP in 2008 notes that “Mandatory deportation of migrants who are HIV-positive imposes substantial economic costs on the affected worker, owing primarily, to a loss of livelihood. In addition, they are often stigmatized and discriminated against by their families, fellow migrants, and their immediate communities.” (HIV Vulnerabilities of Migrant Women: from Asia to the Arab States, UNDP, 2008, p.18)

The correct answer is India, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Singapore. While these are important milestones achieved by countries, recently conducted studies through the People Living with HIV Stigma Index show that people living with HIV continue to face unacceptable levels of stigma and discrimination. Among other things, the studies highlight that women living with HIV continue to have coerced or forced sterilizations. Regional Analysis: People Living with HIV Stigma Index Asia Pacific