The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43900

Donald Morisky, ScD¹, Roger Detels, MD², Teodora V. Tiglao, PhD³, Alfonso Ang, PhD¹, Astou Coly, MPH⁴, and Tsai Tzui, MPH¹. (1) Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, CHS 26-070, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, 310-825-8508, dmorisky@ucla.edu, (2) School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, UCLA, Center for Health Sciences, P.O. Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, (3) University of the Philippines, College of Public Health, Taft and Redro Gil, Manila, Philippines, (4) Epidemiology, University of California at Los Angeles, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772

The purpose of this research is to investigate possible reasons for the low rate of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines compared to other Asian nations. For example, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines is .05 per 100,000 adult population, compared to 2.15 in Thailand, .70 in India, .24 in Viet Nam, and .07 in China. There are several factors which may lead to higher rates within countries, including epidemiological indicators, health behaviors, and social and environmental determinants. Data were collected among 1400 female bar workers (FBW) addressing various behavioral determinants of HIV/AIDS, including the number of different sexual partners, injection drug use, and safe sexual practices (condom use). A four-year longitudinal design in geographically dispersed sites was used in this research. Results indicated that the type of establishment in which a sex worker is employed play a significant role in sexual risk taking behavior as well as the cognitive and social structural determinants of behavior. The rate of IDU among FBWs in the Philippines is less than 1 percent compared to as high as 10 percent in neighboring countries. Furthermore, the Philippines requires all FBW to be registered and undergo weekly examinations at the local Social Hygiene Clinic. The ability to diagnose and treat STDs at an early stage has a tremendous effect on the spread and distribution of infections. Getting an early handle on new infections also provides early intervention, counseling and treatment. Policy implications for organizational based interventions and the description of a national program will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to

• state the prevalence of HIV in four Asian countries comprising 90 percent of the epidemic
• identify three major reasons for a low HIV prevalence in the Philippines, and
• identify specific policy recommendations which can be implemented to reduce the rate of HIV transmission

Keywords: Prevention, Public Health Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.