Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia - Thursday November 30, 2000
The study released by Chinese University of Hong Kong ahead of Friday's World AIDS Day found that less than 10 percent of HIV/AIDS sufferers disclose their status to their families.
While 55 percent of the 289 people with HIV/AIDS interviewed are sexually active, many keep their partners in the dark.
A quarter of married respondents hide their infection or illness from their spouses while three quarters of those who co-habit say nothing to their partners.
But doctors said this does not necessarily put others at risk.
"It is fine for them to be sexually active provided they are engaged in protected sex," a consultant to the government's AIDS' unit, Dr Lee Shui-shan, told Reuters by telephone.
One hundred and thirty-two people were tested positive with HIV and 54 were confirmed to have AIDS during the first three quarters of this year, according to the latest government figures.
HIV is the virus that leads to AIDS.
HIV prevalence in Hong Kong, with a total of 1,491 reported HIV infections and 487 confirmed AIDS cases, fares relatively well compared with the rest of Asia.
Hong Kong, with about seven million people, has more than double the population of Singapore but has half the number of HIV/AIDS patients than the city state.
Singapore was ranked 10th by the United Nations among Asia-Pacific countries for HIV prevalence in 1999.
Cambodia came top of the list with 210,000 reported HIV/AIDS cases, followed by Thailand with 740,000 and Myanmar third with 510,000.
In Hong Kong, discrimination remains the biggest hurdle for HIV patients to be honest with others about their health, the latest survey showed.
A noticeable proportion felt marginalised by family members and others felt discriminated because of the media's negative portrayal, the report said.
Universal HIV screening is in the pipeline for pregnant women in Hong Kong. The scheme is likely to be introduced by next year.
001130
RE001223
Copyright © 2000 - Reuters, Ltd. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Contact Reuters.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2000. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .