| In 2010, another 441 Singapore residents were
newly reported with HIV infection. About 91% of the new cases
were males and 9% were females. This brings the total number of
Singaporeans living with HIV to 4,845 as of end 2010. As at 31
Dec 2010, 2,319 persons are asymptomatic carriers, 1,137 have
or have had AIDSrelated illnesses and 1,389 have died.
Sexual transmission remains the main mode of HIV transmission
among Singaporeans. Of the 441 cases reported in 2010, 432 cases
acquired the infection through the sexual route, with heterosexual
transmission accounting for 52% of infections, homosexual transmission
37% and bisexual transmission 9%. Intravenous drug use (4 cases)
accounted for 1% of infections. In 2010, we were notified of 2
children (both of whom were foreign-born children) who were infected
through the perinatal route.
Over half (55%) of all new cases reported in 2010 were aged between
30 to 49 years of age. Approximately 62% were single, 29% were
married and 7% were divorced or separated.
In 2010, more than half (54%) of the new cases already had late-stage
HIV infection when they were diagnosed. This was similar to the
pattern in previous years.
More than half of the new cases in 2010 (56%) had their HIV detected
when they had HIV testing in the course of medical care, while
another 17% were detected as a result of routine health screening.
12% were detected as a result of voluntary HIV screening. Another
5% of the cases were detected as a result of screening in prisons
and drug rehabilitation centres. The rest were detected through
contact tracing and other screenings. When differentiated by sexual
orientation, a higher proportion of homosexuals had their HIV
infection detected via voluntary screening compared to heterosexuals
(22% vs. 5%).
There were 38 female cases in 2010, comprising 9% of the total
cases. This was similar to the proportion in 2009 (10%). About
one third of female cases (n=12) were aged between 20 to 39 years
of age and over half (53%) of the female cases were married. The
majority (95%) acquired HIV through heterosexual transmission
and the majority (47%) had their HIV detected in the course of
medical care. Fifteen cases (39%) were diagnosed when they already
had late stage infection.
Preventing HIV infection
The most effective way to prevent HIV infection is to remain faithful
to one’s spouse/partner and to avoid casual sex and sex with prostitutes.
A person living with HIV/AIDS looks and feels normal during the
early stage of the infection. It is therefore not possible to
tell if a person is infected with HIV or not by looking at his/her
appearance.
In line with the Ministry’s efforts towards HIV/AIDS prevention,
the Health Promotion Board (HPB) conducts a series of awareness
and educational outreach programmes to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS,
its prevention and management. These programmes also help towards
reducing the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS, which
could lead to late testing and detection of HIV infections. Besides
encouraging at-risk individuals to take personal protective measures,
and to go for early and regular HIV testing, they are also educated
on the health benefits of early detection and treatment for HIV
infections, which will significantly delay the onset of AIDS and
allow them to continue to lead an active and productive life.
It is an offence under the Infectious Diseases Act for persons
who know that they are infected with HIV not to inform their sex
partners of their HIV status before sexual intercourse. Furthermore,
under the Infectious Diseases Act, a person who has reason to
believe that he/she has, or has been exposed to a significant
risk of contracting, HIV/AIDS must take reasonable precautions
to protect his/her sexual partner, such as by using condoms, even
if he is ignorant of his HIV positive status. Alternatively, he/she
can go for a HIV test to confirm that he/she is HIV-negative.
Otherwise, he/she must inform his/her partner of the risk of contracting
HIV from him/her, leaving the partner to voluntarily accept the
risk, if he or she so wishes.
HIV testing is available in most medical clinics. The identities
of persons who come forward for testing and those who are found
to be HIV positive will be kept strictly confidential. Anonymous
testing services are also available.
HIV/AIDS is not transmitted through normal day-to-day contact
with a person living with HIV/AIDS at home, in school or at the
workplace. You cannot get HIV/AIDS from coughs, sneezes, shaking
hands, hugging, sharing of food and cutlery, sharing of toilets,
etc. More information about HIV and AIDS can be found at the HPB
website at http://www.hpb.gov.sg.
More
detailed information with charts
2nd HIV man jailed for sex with
same victim
A second HIV-infected man who had oral and anal
sex with a 37-year-old victim without revealing his HIV status
was jailed for 18 months on Friday. The 48-year-old man, who is
married, had admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the
victim at the married man's home in May 2009 without letting him
know the risk of contracting HIV infection and getting his voluntary
agreement to accept that risk.
Read
Singapore
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
3,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS - deaths
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Source : https://www.cia.gov
Please view the source for updated information
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