A total of 154 additional cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection were reported to the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health in the first quarter of 2014, setting a high record for a single quarter. Over 50% of the new cases were attributed to homosexual or bisexual contact.
Hong Kong AIDS Foundation has been providing free, anonymous and confidential HIV testing and counselling service for the general public and vulnerable groups in the past 20 years and encouraging those with high risk behaviour to take early testing so as to curb the spread of HIV. Last year from May 2013 to April 2014, there were more than 1,300 users of the Foundation’s HIV testing and counselling service. From the questionnaires completed by service users, we have found that the use of condom by both heterosexual and man who have sex with man (MSM) with regular and non-regular partner in every sexual intercourse was relatively low, compared to an ideal condom use rate of over 80%. The top three reasons for not using condom included: (1) having sex with regular partner; (2) under influence of alcohol or drugs; and (3) no thought of using condom at that moment.
Rate of condom use
Reasons for not using condoms
(1) Having sex with regular partner
(2) Under influence of alcohol or drugs
(3) No thought of using condom at that moment
Without complete knowledge of your partner’s sexual history and level of fidelity, the use of condom for every sexual intercourse is the best way to protect oneself against HIV infection or other sexual diseases. The Foundation urged those who had a history of unsafe sex to contact them at 25130513 for an early HIV testing.