The number of male sex workers in Vietnam has been increasing, triggering concerns over sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) and transmission of HIV/AIDS, said Donn Colby, medical director at Harvard Medical School AIDS Initiative in Vietnam (HAIVN). There are about 8,500 male sex workers (MSW) in Hanoi and another 10,000 in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Colby said in a statement recently, adding that the actual figures may be much higher. He attributed the situation to freer expression of sexual desire among women and among homosexuals, which leads to more demand for men who have sex with men (MSM). Risks of HIV transmission among MSW in Vietnam have increased as nearly 40% of MSM use no protection, he said. Ho Chi Minh City’s Center for HIV/AIDS Control said in a report that the rate of HIV transmission among MSM was nearly 20% in 2012 from 14% in 2011, noting that the number of STIs was excluded. Prostitution remains illegal in Vietnam but the country has changed its ways to deal with the issue by stopping mandatory detention for sex workers. The violators will be charged an amount of money instead. The country has considered criminalizing prostitution but social experts said that it would not solve the problem. The Southeast Asian country should focus on educating people on prostitution and equip sex workers with protection. (www.tienphong.vn [1] June 6)
