Dear All,

"Re: Low Rate of HIV in Philippines: Is prevalence likely to remain "low and
slow" Could we also add Hong Kong, where, (unlike the mainland of China), good
public health awareness and surveillance exist; and also, for other than
religious reasons, condom use is rather low. Research opportunity in a very
condensed urban infrastructure would make investigation rather logistically
easy.

Here (WHO estimate) only 3,000 out of 7.8 million people are carriers
(local figure 2000, end of 2002), and there are about 600 AIDS patients.
(total carriers+patients 0.05%). Injecting drug users are about 15,000,
Hepatitis B is present is in 20% of the population.

Some major research on these apparent anomalies and their contrasts with
Viet Nam, also ethnically Chinese, Thailand, and Caucasian/African
populations really should be funded! I think the basis may lie in actual
sexual practices, both gay and straight. I think HK gay population is far
less oriented to anal intercourse then some other populations, and
heterosexual sex may be far less "exploratory", but these are difficult
areas for research!

Good wishes for good work!

Jeffrey.

Dr. J.R.Day,
Associate Professor in Curriculum Studies, (Science)
Division of Science, Mathematics & Information Technology
Faculty of Education,
The University of Hong Kong,
Pok Fu Lam Road,
Hong Kong S.A.R.
China

tel: 852 28578546 (o) 94871514 (m)
fax: 852 28585649.
http://www.hku.hk/curric/jday/
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