It has the highest rate of increase of HIV prevalence in South East Asia. In 1997 the rate was 2.4%, just two years later, it was 4.04%.[i]
Cambodia has more than 200,000 people who are living with HIV; 71,000 are women.[ii]
An estimated one third of HIV/AIDS cases are among women of childbearing age.[iii]
There are more than 25,000 sex workers in Cambodia;15,000 are in Phnom Penh.[iv]
One of the major factors in the spread of HIV/AIDS is men visiting prostitutes and then taking the disease back to their wives.[v]

AIDS infecting married women in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH: While the rate of HIV transmission in Cambodia may be falling due to condom use, the AIDS virus appears to be increasingly infecting married women, says a new report by Cambodian health officials. Among prostitutes surveyed, 33 per cent were HIV positive. For policemen the rate was nearly 5 per cent; and for pregnant women 2.6 per cent. The substantial drop in reported infections among prostitutes, previously believed to be about 50 per cent, backs up findings of increased condom use, but the study warns that AIDS is increasingly finding its way into the average Cambodian home.

Times of India, 12 may 2000

[i] UNAIDS Fact sheet/Cambodia, 2000

[ii] UNAIDS Fact sheet/Cambodia, 2000

[iii] UNAIDS Fact sheet/Cambodia, 2000

[iv] Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 26 July 1999

[v] Proceedings of the 1st National Conference on Gender and Development, Cambodia, Sept 99

Date: 22May2001

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