Publications
Summary
Research Report: Addresses the demographic impacts of HIV/AIDS in Melanesian countries in particular PNG, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.
Description
Author: John C. Caldwell
This paper is one of a series of four academic research papers prepared for
a meeting titled HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific: Its everyone's problem.
It deals with the demographic impacts of HIV/AIDS in Melanesian countries in
particular PNG, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. The paper brings together
existing research and sentinel data and compares HIV/AIDS rates across the
region.
The paper also assesses the probability of an Melanesian AIDS pandemic
in view of evidence that Melanesia shares many similarities to other areas with
serious AIDS epidemics such as high levels of sexually transmitted infections
(STI), low levels of male circumcision and parity by sex of reported cases. The
report recommends several prevention measures including improved surveillance,
better condom distribution, education programs, STI campaigns and support for
public and private institutions to deal with HIV/AIDS.
The research found that
the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have so far been protected by their small
populations and by small urban areas (their capitals have populations of 50 and
20 thousand respectively). The greatest threat to them is likely to come from a
major epidemic in Port Moresby or in PNG as a whole.
Available: Electronic version only
This report was commissioned by AusAID. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of AusAID or the Australian Government.
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