HIV/AIDS in Malaysia

The first HIV case in Malaysia made it debut in 1986 and since has become one of the country's most serious health and development challenges.[1] As of end 2015, it is estimated that there were 93,000 people living with HIV in the nation.[2]

Malaysia is ranked fourth highest in adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Asia after Thailand, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia with a 0.45% prevalence rate.[3]

Prevalence

Total Number of new HIV infections and AIDS death for each year between 1986 and June 2008, by gender
Number of new infections and percentage of new infections per State population in 2006,2007 and 2008

Malaysian HIV/AIDS cases have been reported since 1986 by the Ministry of Health. Since then, the national surveillance system had reported a cumulative of 105,189 HIV cases, 21,384 AIDS and 17,096 deaths related to HIV/AIDS giving total reported PLHIV of 88,093 cases or 96% of estimated PLHIV.[4]

Males still make up the majority of HIV cases (90%), but the number of women with positive status of HIV has been increasing. This is shown by the decreasing trend of male:female ratio of 10:1 in 2002 to 4:1 in 2013.[5] 34% of the cumulative HIV infection are among young adults; between the age of 13 and 29.

Between January to June 2014, 1,676 cases of HIV and 598 cases of AIDS with 402 deaths were recorded.[6] Out of this new infection, 79.7% are men.

HIV Transmission by Risk Factor (2013)[5]
Percentage %
Malay
  
 70
Chinese
  
 15
Indian
  
 8
Foreigner
  
 4
Others
  
 3
HIV Infection by Ethnicity

Means of Transmission

In 2013, heterosexuals transmission recorded the highest (51%), followed by Injecting Drug User (22%) and Homo/Bisexual transmission (22%). According to the Ministry of Health, at present (2016), 70% of HIV transmission are transmitted through heterosexual relationships, mainly from female sex workers to male clients.[7]

Means of Transmission (2013)[5]

  Heterosexual (51%)
  Injecting Drug User (PWID) (22%)
  Homosexual/Bisexual (22%)
  Unknown (3%)
  Mother-to-Child (2%)

Incidence & Mortality Rate

Incidence & Mortality Rate, 2013 (per 100,000 population)[8]
Disease Incidence Rate Mortality Rate
HIV 11.42 0.58
AIDS 4.00 1.62

At-risk group

The HIV epidemic in Malaysia is concentrated in these key populations;[5]

Treatment

The first line of highly active antiretroviral therapy is provided for free in Malaysia by the Ministry of Health since 2006.[9] However, only 28% of HIV/AIDS patients seek consistent treatment as the awareness among patients to get treatment was still low because they were ashamed to seek treatment and did not know about the various types of treatment provided by the government to help them fight the disease.[10] The government hopes the figure will reach 90% in line with the National Strategic Plan Ending AIDS 2016-2030.[10]

Local Support

The Malaysian AIDS Council

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Global AIDS Response Progress Report 2014" (PDF). UN Aids. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "People living with HIV/AIDS urged to go for screening". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "COUNTRY COMPARISON :: HIV/AIDS - ADULT PREVALENCE RATE". Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Global AIDS Response Progress Report Malaysia 2015" (PDF). UN Aids. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Annual Report 2013" (PDF). Malaysia Aids Council, Malaysia Aids Foundation. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "HIV/AIDS claim 16,742 lives in Malaysia since 1986". Astro Awani. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "HIV mostly spread through heterosexual relations". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "Kadar Insiden & Kematian Akibat Penyakit Berjangkit". Ministry of Health. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Guidelines for the Management of Adult HIV Infection with Antiretroviral Therapy" (PDF). Ministry of Health. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Only 28% of HIV/AIDS patients seek consistent treatment: Dr Hilmi". The Sun Daily. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
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