Trends of HIV/AIDS in Southeast Asia

Abstract

It is very important to recognise trends in HIV/AIDS in specific areas such as Asia because it is vital to understanding the effectiveness of current approaches towards diagnosis and treatment. It is also very important to understand the risk factors that significantly predispose people in Asia to contract HIV/AIDS such as lifestyle, culture, and religion. This review extensively analyses the various current trends of HIV/AIDS in India, China, Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia. Additionally, cultural diversity carries certain social and religious stigmas associated with the disease. These social stigmas also pose as a significant influence in government involvement with regards to the funding of HIV/AIDS awareness, education, prevention, and the protection of human rights. Lack of education about the methods of protection and transmission of the disease remains to be a significant hindrance in the prevention of a further rise in epidemiological statistics. Moreover, these factors are attributed towards the rising incidence or risk of HIV within several populations amongst these countries. This review also analyses the clinical presentation, epidemiological statistics, and the financial and socioeconomic impacts of HIV/AIDS in India, China, Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia. Financial burdens and lack of government infrastructure in the healthcare systems are largely responsible for the rapidly rising prevalence of the disease among the populations along with the inaccessibility to prevention and treatment methods. Furthermore, the scarcity of available antiretroviral and preventative medications is discussed. Lastly, this review explores various methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention plans that are implemented in modern medicine with respect to HIV/AIDS.