HIV/AIDS INFECTION IN MACAU (1986 - 1996)

A total of 83934 samples were studied and 133 were positive during the decade 86-96. The female/male ratio was 3:1. 73.5% were under 29 years old and 67% work in the entertainment industry.

The cumulative prevalence was:

Year Cumulative prevalence
1986 0.2%
1987 0.04%
1988 0.02%
1989 0.02%
1990 0.02%
1991 0.03%
1992 0.07%
1993 0.14%
1994 0.16%
1995 0.16%
1996 (June) 0.15%

Sentinel Surveillance:

Entertainment industry workers 0.6%
Referrals from hospitals, clinics and health centres 0.4%
IVDU 0.3%
Prisoners 0.05%
Blood donors 0.002%
Candidates to security Forces 0.0%

The most common route of transmission:

  WOMEN MEN
Heterosexual 94% 33.3%
Home/Bisexual ? 40%
IVDU ? 6.6%

85% of seropositive persons were temporary residents; 0.8% progressed to AIDS; 5.3% were HIV carriers and for 93.9% the situation was unknown.

Macau has a very low prevalence of HIV infection. Laboratorial diagnosis of HIV started in 1986. In 1992 there was a significant increase related with the implementation of the Entertainment industry Control and Preventive Programme and the annual prevalence has been stable since then till 1995. In the first half of 96 a slight decrease is foreseen.

(Source: Epidemiological of HIV Infection in Macau, 1986 - 1996)