A recent study presented at the 8th International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific last week shows that the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asia is largely being driven by wealthy men, disputing the idea that it is fueled by impoverished members of society.
The study, commissioned by UNAIDS and the Asian Development Bank, highlighted the fact that men who have unprotected sex with many partners, often sex workers, are a major cause for the spread of HIV—and it’s often wealthier men who can afford to pay for sex partners.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
