Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) continue to spread alarmingly in South-East Asia and pose a major public health and developmental threat to the countries of this Region. Although HIV began to spread in Asia much later than it did in the United States and Africa, it is already having considerable impact in many countries as seen by the rapid increase in infection rates among various population groups including the general population. Given the presence of risk behaviour factors, such as high rates of STD, male patronage of sex workers, and low usage of condoms, there is an enormous potential for spread in all countries of the Region. While countries are responding to the pandemic to their best capabilities, much more remains to be achieved in terms of political commitment, appropriate societal response and in the speedy and efficient implementation of programme activities, in the areas of both prevention and care. This article provides a short summary of the current status of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/HIV epidemiology in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Information was requested from WHO, UNAIDS as well as from STI experts in a number of major nations in the region. Reliable national STI notification statistics were not available from several of these countries. Varying rates of notification and completeness of data make direct comparison between countries difficult. However, within country trends do provide an idea of the epidemics in the respective countries.
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