In the fourth quarter of 2003, 9 HIV infections were reported, 5
of which were males and 4 were females (Table 1).
In the year 2003, a total of 24 HIV infections have been reported, representing
a 9.1% increase in comparison with the previous year 2002. There was a
male-to-female ratio of 1:1, and the heterosexual transmission accounted for 50%
of HIV new detected cases (Table 1).
.
Cumulatively, since 1986 up to December 2003, a total of 286 HIV infections were
reported in Macao, 25 of which have progressed to AIDS. The major route of
transmission was sexual (75.5%) with the predominance of heterosexual
transmission (67.5%). The women represented 65% of the HIV infections
(female-to-male ratio = 1.9 : 1), most of which (83.9%) were temporary
residents, working in the entertainment industry (E.I.W.), ethnic non-chinese.
(The male-to-female ratio of 1:1, that occurred in the year 2003, could
eventually indicate a tendence for inverting the situation concerning the gender
ratio, verified in the previous years).
Excluding the E.I.W. group, the cumulative numbers of HIV, among resident Macao
population, till December 2003, represented 102 cases with the following pattern
profile : the principal route of transmission has been heterosexual (32.4%),
followed by the injecting drug use (11.8%) and by the homosexual (9.8%). The men
were responsible by 68.6% of all HIV cases (male-to-female ratio = 2.3 : 1).
The HIV spread in Macao has been very limited, till now. The absolute number of
HIV cases detected, annually, from various sources, has been quite stable in the
last years, with only some fluctuations. The HIV spread continues to evolve with
predominant heterosexual transmission, showing in the resident population, a
higher incidence among the men.
From the data obtained, it indicates that Macao has enjoyed a low HIV prevalence
(<0.1%). The prevalence rate estimated for Macao, among residents, is 22 per 100
thousands which puts the Territory in the group of low prevalence Asian
Countries and Territories.
| Year 2003 | Year 2003 | Cumulative | ||||
| OCT-DEC 2003 | JAN-DEC | 1986 - 2003 | ||||
| HIV | AIDS | HIV | AIDS | HIV | AIDS | |
| SEX | ||||||
| Male | 5 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 99 | 20 |
| Female | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 186 | 5 |
| Unknown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ETHNICITY/RACE | ||||||
| Chinese | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 37 | 13 |
| Non-Chinese | 4 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 231 | 11 |
| Unknown | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| Age | ||||||
| Adult | 8 | 1 | 22 | 2 | 277 | 24 |
| Child (age 13 or less) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Unknown | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Route of Transmission | ||||||
| Heterosexual | 6 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 193 | 10 |
| Homosexual | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 4 |
| Injecting Drug User | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
| Blood Transfusion/Blood Products | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Perinatal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown | 3 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 55 | 7 |
| TOTAL | 9 | 1 | 24 | 2 | 286 | 25 |
Source : Public Health Laboratory, Department of Health, RAEM