The world’s second-most populous country, India, is experiencing a highly varied HIV epidemic, which appears to be stable, or diminishing in some parts while growing at a modest rate in others. Approximately 5.7 million [3.4 million–9.4 million] people, of whom 5.2 million were adults aged 15–49 years, were living with HIV in 2005. The bulk of HIV infections in India are occurring during unprotected heterosexual intercourse (National AIDS Control Organization, 2005b). Consequently, women account for a growing proportion of people living with HIV (some 38% in 2005). Injecting drug use is the main risk factor for HIV infection in the north-east. In the two states where such data have been collected, HIV prevalence of 6.8% and 9.6% were found among men who have sex with men in Chennai and Mumbai, respectively (NACO, 2004b).

Cambodia’s epidemic appears to be stabilizing, having diminished since the late 1990s. HIV prevalence levels among brothel-based sex workers fell from 43% in 1995 to 21% in 2003 (National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STIs, 2004). Women comprised almost half (47%) of people living with HIV in Cambodia in 2003. A 2000 survey in Phnom Penh found 15% of men who have sex with men were infected with HIV, while a more recent survey in the capital found 8.9% were HIV-positive (Phalkun et al., 2006).

Sri Lanka has a relatively small number of people living with HIV—about 5,000 adults. Since 1986, only 712 cases have been officially reported. The main risk factors are IDUs and commercial sex. HIV/AIDS infection in Bangladesh remains at relatively low levels in most at risk population groups, with the exception of Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) where prevalence continues to grow. . Although national HIV prevalence remains under 1% amongst the general population (approximately 11 000 as of ende of 2005) in Bangladesh, there are risk factors that could fuel the spread of HIV among high-risk groups.

Source UNAIDS, 2006 AIDS Epidemic Update, December 2006, and The World Bank website.