Increase in women with HIV

July 14, 2010
By JOSHUA FOONG
Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The rise in the number of women being infected with HIV is an indication that the disease has gone beyond affecting just drug users and sex workers.

“HIV infection among women had increased from 9.4% in 2000 to 19.1% in 2008,” Malaysian AIDS Foundation chairman Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said yesterday.

“As of last year, 87,710 people were infected with HIV/AIDS since 1986. Some 12,039 of them died of AIDS-related complications.”

Dr Adeeba said although most HIV cases were due to injecting drug users, there had also been an increase of up to 29.9% due to heterosexual relationship.

“Prevention, stigma and discrimination are the three main issues for Malaysia in dealing with HIV/AIDS,” she said.

Dr Adeeba will be one of the three scientific coaches in the International AIDS Conference 2010 in Vienna from July 18 to July 23 where she will be coordinating the scientific programme for the conference.

The Universiti Malaya Infectious Diseases Unit head is also the only Asian representative in the 28-member Conference Coordinating Committee.

Dr Adeeba said that the conference would present new scientific knowledge and offer many opportunities for structured dialogues on the major issues facing the global response to HIV.

The conference is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV, as well as policy makers, persons living with HIV/AIDS and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic.

Austrian ambassador Mag Andrea Wicke said the event would be attended by over 25,000 participants, making it the world’s biggest event putting HIV on the front burner.

“This is not just a medical conference. It discusses political, social and economic policies in relation to HIV/AIDS,” she said.

Continued ignorance of how HIV is transmitted

PETALING JAYA (Sept 6, 2009): There are still many misconceptions in Malaysia about the mode of transmission of HIV despite awareness programmes conducted by the government and non-governmental organisations, a survey has shown.

These were mainly related to kissing, sharing meals, sitting on public toilets, using public swimming pools and causal contact, said University of Malaya psychologist Prof Low Wah Yun, who conducted the survey with two colleagues.

“It is important for these misconceptions to be dispelled in order to reduce the stigma and discrimination,” she said.

In this respect, Low said, the media could play a significant role by tackling difficult issues such as how to handle unwanted sexual advances and to negotiate condom use.

She said the number of HIV infections through heterosexual relationships was on the rise in the country due to the fact that most Malaysian men were reluctant to use condoms.

Low also highlighted the risk of contracting HIV among adolescents who did not practise safe sex.

“Worldwide, more than 50% of all new HIV infections occur in those aged between 10 and 24.

Daily, over 7000 young people are infected with HIV.”

She said that although the Health Ministry had implemented the “Prostar” programme for young people aimed at increasing knowledge of HIV/AIDS, the survey found there was still a large number of youth unaware of it.

Low suggested the programme be widely implemented especially for youth out of school and young factory workers.

She said peer education was an effective way to have young people participate in HIV prevention and care efforts.

On the rising threat of cybersex, Low said online sexual activity was the next sexual revolution, with this type of sexual expression ranging from curiosity to obsessive involvement.

To combat the growing social issue, there is an urgent need for youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services that provide confidentiality and trust and are non-judgmental, she said. – Bernama

AIDS Council to target men with extra sexual liaisons

February 2, 2009
Star
By LOH FOON FONG

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) will now target male groups that engaged in sex outside their marriage or relationship.

MAC programme director Parimelazhagan Ellan said there is an increasing number of women being infected by their partners who engaged in sex outside their relationship and contracted the HIV.

“In the past, women were mainly infected by drug injecting partners, and we had carried out harm reduction programmes among drug users,” he said.

This year, the council will target men engaged in sex outside their main relationship since work had begun for drug injecting people and vulnerable women groups, said Parimelazhagan when asked if men too need to be made responsible in containing the spread of the HIV.

“We will work with the Health Ministry to see how we can tackle this growing trend.”

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai recently said the ministry had set up a task force to check the increasing rate of women being infected with HIV and had until April to come out with an action plan based on the World Health Organisation’s recommendations.

The ministry’s statistics from 1986 to June 2008 showed that 7,162 women were infected with HIV and 1,516 developed AIDS, and of the 2,565 housewives infected, 525 developed AIDS.

Sungai Buloh Hospital Infectious Diseases unit head Dr Christopher Lee said it was easier to target harm reduction work among injecting drug users than non-drug users. Dr Lee said housewives from the lower income group formed the vulnerable women’s group, and blue collared male workers the main group of men infected.

HIV carriers can have healthy kids

Dec 23, 2008
TheStar
Expert: HIV carriers can have healthy kids


GEORGE TOWN: The perception that those who are infected with HIV cannot marry, have sex or even have children is wrong.

AIDS Action and Res­earch Group (AARG) convenor Assoc Prof Dr Ismail Baba said a person who is HIV-positive can still lead a normal life, get married and have children as long as they are given proper counselling and treatment.

He said the chance of a HIV-positive person getting a child who is also infected was 30%.

“There are cases where they have been given wrong advice by even trained counsellors,” he said at the start of a two-day workshop on “Men & HIV/AIDS: Problems, Issues & Action at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) here yesterday.

On Monday, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was reported as advising Muslim couples not to marry if one or both of them were HIV positive.

He said that it would be unfair for the couples and to their child.

Dr Ismail also said AARG, which is a member of the Malaysian AIDS Council, supported the council’s stand to discourage mandatory HIV screening for all Muslim couples.

“What is the point of forcing people to undergo the screening because it will only defeat the purpose of curbing the rise in HIV infections,” he said.

He suggested that the Government first identify religious officers who are qualified and trained to give proper pre-test and post-test counselling.

He also said the screening would only create fear in those who feel they are at risk because of the stigma and discrimation they could face.

Safer Sex

There is no much confusion with regards to the sex life of people with HIV. Remember this, people who are HIV+ play an important role in managing the transmission of HIV.
There are many questions that you may want to ask but are embarrassed, afraid or you just don’t know whom to ask. Your best bet is your doctor. We have also answered some frequently asked questions which may help clarify it for you.

Is it safe for a HIV-negative person to have sex with someone who is HIV+?
Using a condom lowers the risk of transmission. You might also consider telling the person about your HIV+ status. They have a right to know.

I am afraid that I may infect my partner. What should I do?
Talk to your partner about your fears and decide on alternative ways to enjoy each other. Intimate activities like kissing, massaging etc present very little risk.

What are the usual ways that HIV is transmitted?
HIV is present in semen, blood, vaginal fluid. It can be transmitted by having unprotected sex (not using a condom), by sharing contaminated needles and from mother to child.

What is safer sex?
Safer sex is sex that avoids contact with semen, blood and vaginal fluid from getting into the bloodstream of another person.

Is oral sex safe?
What if the other person has sores or cuts in the mouth? If you have any doubts, use a condom or dental dams.

Is it safe to have sex when a person with HIV+ has her period?
The risks are lowered when the male partner uses a condom. HIV is present in blood and having unprotected sex (without a condom) has the risk of transmission.

If both partners are HIV+ should we still use protection (condom)?
Yes. You may suffer the risk of getting infected with sexually transmitted infections or different strains of HIV (re-infection).

What is re-infection?
Re-infection means someone getting a new or secondary infection from a virus that has already infected them. This happens because of the different strains of the virus. People with HIV may become re-infected through unsafe sex.

What are the risks of re-infection?
It may help the HIV virus to make more copies of itself. Your viral load may increase and this can put your health at greater risk.

How effective is a condom?
It does not provide 100% protection from HIV but close to 100% if it is used correctly. It also lowers the risk of getting other sexually transmitted diseases. It is the only effective option we have for now.

Do condoms come in various sizes?
Yes. It’s important to find one that fits.

Why is the size important?
If it’s too large, there’s a chance that semen can flow out and transmit HIV. If it’s too small, it may cause a tear which also means that semen can flow out.

Are there condoms for women?
Yes, but they are quite expensive. Check with your doctor where you can purchase them.

Is there a right way to put a condom?
Yes there is.
1. Check the condom packet to make sure that it’s your size and that it has not expired. Then, carefully tear open the packet and take out the condom.
2. Put the condom on the head of the erect penis. Pinch the tip to expel air bubbles.
3. While continuing to pinch the tip, use your other hand to unroll the condom right to the base of the penis.
4. If necessary, apply a water-based lubricant such as ‘KY Jelly’.
5. After ejaculation, withdraw penis carefully before it loses its erection. Hold the rim tight against the penis to prevent spillage.
6. Take off the condom know the open end, wrap in toilet paper and dispose into the garbage. Do not flush used condom into toilet bowl.

Are there lubricants that are recommended to use with condoms?
It’s best to use water-based lubricants like ‘KY Jelly’. Lubricants like ‘Vaseline’, lotion and oil tend to damage condoms which may mean the semen can flow out.