‘Thriving’ Sex Industry, Unwillingness To Discuss Sex in South Korea ‘Likely’ To Contribute To Increase in HIV Infections
South Korea's "thriving" sex industry and South Koreans' unwillingness to discuss safe sex will "likely" contribute to a "steady increase" in the number of HIV infections in the country, the San Francisco Chronicle reports today as part of its occasional series on AIDS in Asia. Many health experts say that the population's "renunciation of promiscuity" is a "major reason" why South Korea has one of the lowest HIV prevalence rates in Asia; UNAIDS estimates that the country had only 4,000 adult HIV cases at the end of 2001. However, some officials say that a "reluctance to use condoms, a rise in infections among homosexuals, an increase in young Koreans' sexual activities and lack of information about contraception are likely factors that could lead to a significant increase in HIV infections in future years," the Chronicle reports (McGill, San Francisco Chronicle, 3/14). The complete article is available online.
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