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Part I: Characteristics of the Philippine National
HIV Epidemic
The first AIDS case in the Philippines was reported in 1984. At the end of December 2005, 2,410 HIV and AIDS cases were reported in the Philippines, with the number of new cases increasing annually. (Table 1) The Department of Health national HIV/AIDS Registry showed that 1,692 or 70% of the total reported cases were asymptomatic and 718 or 30% were AIDS cases. Two hundred eighty one (281) or 39% of the AIDS cases had already resulted to death at the time of the reporting.1 The 2005 Consensus Report revealed that there are an estimated 11,168 HIV and AIDS cases in the Philippines.
| Table 1. Cumulative HIV and Cases, January 1984 - December 2005 |
Total Reported HIV and
AIDS Cases |
1984-
1990 |
1991-
1995 |
1996-
2000 |
2001-
2005 |
Total |
| Number of new HIV cases |
296 |
493 |
741 |
960 |
2,410 |
| Asymptomatic |
147 |
309 |
505 |
731 |
1,692 |
| AIDS |
69 |
184 |
236 |
229 |
718 |
| Number of deaths |
60 |
80 |
79 |
62 |
281 |
A total of 821 (34%) cases were Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) of which 35% were seafarers.3 While current reports indicate an increasing trend of HIV infection among OFWs over the past three years, the data on the proportion of infected OFWs over the total number of cases must be treated with caution, since this sector is routinely tested as an employment requirement by host countries or their principal employers. (Table 2)
| Table 2. Cumulative HIV and AIDS Cases among OFWs, January 1984 - December 2005 |
Total Reported HIV and
AIDS Cases among OFWs |
1984-
1990 |
1991-
1995 |
1996-
2000 |
2001-
2005 |
Total |
| Number of new HIV cases |
30 |
105 |
239 |
447 |
821 |
| Asymptomatic |
17 |
62 |
178 |
333 |
590 |
| AIDS |
13 |
43 |
61 |
114 |
231 |
| Number of deaths |
10 |
22 |
16 |
31 |
79 |
The predominant mode of transmission is still sexual intercourse (86%), with 62% heterosexual, 18% homosexual and 5% bisexual contacts. Thirty three (33) cases were from mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), while 7 cases were reportedly from injecting drug use (IDU).2 It is important to note that of these IDU cases, 2 were detected in 2005, the first time since 1996. (Figure 1)
| Figure 1. HIV and AIDS Cases by Modes of Transmission, January 1984 - December 2005 |
Of the total reported cases, 63% of males and 69% of females were between the ages of 20 to 39. (Figure 2)
| Figure 2. HIV and AIDS Cases by Age and Gender, January 1984 - December 2005 |
For the year 2005, the prevalence of HIV infection among Filipino adults (15-49 years old) was 0.03%.5 Country estimates of the population size and prevalence of HIV infection among high risk groups are presented in the table below. These estimates were derived using the Workbook methodology.6 What is important to note here is that high risk groups only account for 26% of the total HIV prevalence.7 (Table 3)
| Table 3. Population Size and Prevalence Rate by Most-at-risk population (MARP), 2005 |
Most at risk
Populations |
Estimates |
| Population size |
HIV Prevalence (%) |
| Low |
High |
Low |
High |
| IDUs |
16,000 |
30,500 |
0.10 |
2.90 |
| MSMs |
379,799 |
804,280 |
0.00 |
0.39 |
| FSWs |
112,354 |
175,553 |
0.06 |
0.34 |
| Male clients of FSWs |
280,604 |
438,444 |
0.00 |
0.63 |
| Total |
788,757 |
1.448,777 |
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The "low and slow" characterization of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the Philippines in the past, has pushed the issue low in the development agenda. Today, it is widely recognized that the situation may in fact be 'hidden and growing". Factors that are known to accelerate HIV transmission have been widely noted in the country. These include, among others:
Condom use remains low even among vulnerable groups. There is a high rate of sexually-transmitted infections (STI) in both vulnerable groups and the general population, coupled with inadequate access to STI treatment and poor health-seeking behaviour. There is increased sexual risk behaviors among adolescents 15-24 years old compared to the levels observed eight years ago, including earlier sexual initiation, unprotected sex, having multiple sexual partners, and paying and/or engaging in paid sex. Low level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS among the general population, particularly among the youth. There is an emerging problem of intravenous drug users (IDUs), a high percentage of which reportedly share injecting equipment. (80-90 % of IDUs are positive for Hepatitis C)
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