UPDATE ON THE HIV/AIDS SITUATION IN SINGAPORE 2019 (JUNE 2020)
There were 323 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections reported among Singapore residents[1] in 2019. This brings the total number of HIV-infected Singapore residents to 8,618 as of end 2019, of whom 2,097 had passed away. The number of new HIV cases among Singapore residents has been between 400 to 500 per year from 2007 to 2017 and about 310 to 330 in 2018 and 2019.
2. Of the 323 cases, 95% were male and 66% were aged 20 to 49 years. About 52% had late-stage HIV infection[2]when they were diagnosed.
3. Sexual intercourse remains the main mode of HIV transmission. 97% (312 out of 323) of the cases had acquired the infection through sexual intercourse. Heterosexual transmission accounted for 40% of cases, while homosexual transmission occurred in 49% and bisexual transmission in 8% of cases. (Please refer to the Annex for details.)
4. 54% of the newly reported cases were detected during the course of medical care and typically at a late stage of HIV infection. Another 22% were detected during routine programmatic HIV screening and 16% were detected from self-initiated HIV screening i.e. voluntary screening. Cases detected via voluntary screening tended to be at the early stage of infection. When differentiated by sexual transmission, a higher proportion of homosexuals and bisexuals (25%) had their HIV infection detected via voluntary screening compared to heterosexuals (5%).
Public Advisory
5. The most effective way to prevent HIV infection is to remain faithful to one’s spouse/ partner and to avoid casual sex, or sex with sex workers. Persons engaging in high-risk sexual behaviour, such as having multiple sexual partners or engaging in casual or commercial sex, are strongly advised to use condoms to reduce their risk of HIV infection. Condoms should be used consistently and correctly during every sexual encounter.
6. The Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Board (HPB) urge individuals who engage in high-risk sexual behaviour to go for early and regular HIV testing. With early diagnosis, an infected person can be treated earlier, and receive counselling on how to protect their partners from infection. Early treatment and care can delay the onset of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and also help reduce HIV spread in the community. HIV testing is available at polyclinics, private clinics, and hospitals. There are also anonymous HIV test sites, where personal particulars are not required when signing up for a HIV test.
7. HPB has been working with partner organisations to conduct programmes and campaigns targeted at high-risk individuals to urge them to go for regular HIV testing. HPB’s partners conduct various educational outreach programmes on HIV prevention and management using a lifestyle approach. These programmes reach out to at-risk individuals through social settings to encourage them to take protective measures and to go for early and regular HIV testing.
8. More information about HIV and AIDS can be found at www.healthhub.sg
ANNEX
TABLE 1
NUMBER OF SINGAPORE RESIDENTS REPORTED WITH HIV /AIDS
(1985 – 2019)
|
Year
|
HIV/AIDS
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
Total
|
Rate*
|
|
1985
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0.8
|
|
1986
|
6
|
1
|
7
|
2.8
|
|
1987
|
10
|
0
|
10
|
3.9
|
|
1988
|
15
|
0
|
15
|
5.8
|
|
1989
|
9
|
1
|
10
|
3.8
|
|
1990
|
17
|
0
|
17
|
6.2
|
|
1991
|
39
|
3
|
42
|
15
|
|
1992
|
49
|
6
|
55
|
19.3
|
|
1993
|
58
|
6
|
64
|
22
|
|
1994
|
76
|
10
|
86
|
29.1
|
|
1995
|
102
|
9
|
111
|
36.8
|
|
1996
|
123
|
16
|
139
|
45.3
|
|
1997
|
157
|
16
|
173
|
55.4
|
|
1998
|
167
|
32
|
199
|
62.6
|
|
1999
|
171
|
35
|
206
|
63.8
|
|
2000
|
193
|
33
|
226
|
69
|
|
2001
|
204
|
33
|
237
|
71.3
|
|
2002
|
206
|
28
|
234
|
69.2
|
|
2003
|
212
|
30
|
242
|
71.9
|
|
2004
|
290
|
21
|
311
|
91.1
|
|
2005
|
287
|
30
|
317
|
91.4
|
|
2006
|
327
|
32
|
359
|
101.8
|
|
2007
|
392
|
31
|
423
|
118.1
|
|
2008
|
426
|
30
|
456
|
125.2
|
|
2009
|
418
|
45
|
463
|
124
|
|
2010
|
403
|
38
|
441
|
116.9
|
|
2011
|
430
|
31
|
461
|
121.7
|
|
2012
|
437
|
32
|
469
|
122.8
|
|
2013
|
428
|
26
|
454
|
118.1
|
|
2014
|
422
|
34
|
456
|
117.81
|
|
2015
|
423
|
32
|
455
|
116.6
|
|
2016
|
380
|
28
|
408 | 103.7
|
2017
| 408
| 26
| 434
| 109.4
|
2018
| 290
| 23
| 313
| 7.8
|
| 2019 | 308 | 15 | 323 | 8.0 |
|
Total
|
7885
|
733
|
8618
|
-
|
*Per 100,000 resident population.
TABLE 2
DISTRIBUTION OF HIV/AIDS - INFECTED SINGAPORE RESIDENTS
BY MODES OF TRANSMISSION
(1985 – 2019)
| Mode of Transmission | 1985-2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019
| Total |
| Sexual Transmission | | | | | | | | | | |
| Heterosexual | 3340 | 220 | 188 | 217 | 171 | 148 | 155 | 135 | 128
| 4702 |
| Homosexual | 1293 | 210 | 210 | 181 | 232 | 213 | 218 | 131 | 158
| 2846 |
| Bisexual | 381 | 27 | 38 | 42 | 35 | 28 | 44 | 32 | 26
| 653 |
| Intravenous drug use | 109 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1
| 126 |
| Blood Transfusion | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
| 3 |
| Renal Transplant overseas | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
| 5 |
| Perinatal (mother to child) | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2* | 1* | 0 | 0
| 34 |
| Uncertain/Others | 144 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 10
| 249 |
| Total | 5306 | 469 | 454 | 456 | 455 | 408 | 434 | 313 | 323
| 8618 |
*Transmission occurred overseas
HIV/AIDS - INFECTED SINGAPORE RESIDENTS
BY MARITAL STATUS AND SEX
(1985 – 2019)
| Marital status | 1985 - 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019
| Total |
| Male | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Single | 2971 | 295 | 292 | 287 | 321 | 282 | 316 | 199 | 214
| 5177 |
| | Married | 1305 | 102 | 92 | 102 | 64 | 68 | 65 | 68 | 67
| 1933 |
| | Divorced/Separated | 425 | 31 | 38 | 27 | 29 | 24 | 23 | 12 | 22
| 631 |
| | Widowed | 88 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 5
| 144 |
| | Total | 4789 | 437 | 428 | 422 | 423 | 380 | 408 | 290 | 308
| 7885 |
| Female | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Single | 102 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 2
| 142 |
| | Married | 302 | 13 | 14 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 9
| 416 |
| | Divorced/Separated | 73 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 3
| 123 |
| | Widowed | 40 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1
| 52 |
| | Total | 517 | 32 | 26 | 34 | 32 | 28 | 26 | 23 | 15
| 733 |
| Total | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Single | 3073 | 302 | 300 | 291 | 326 | 283 | 323 | 205 | 216
| 5319 |
| | Married | 1607 | 115 | 106 | 124 | 82 | 84 | 76 | 79 | 76
| 2349 |
| | Divorced/Separated | 498 | 41 | 41 | 33 | 38 | 33 | 30 | 15 | 25
| 754 |
| | Widowed | 128 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 6
| 196 |
| | Total | 5306 | 469 | 454 | 456 | 455 | 408 | 434 | 313 | 323
| 8618 |
TABLE 4
HIV/AIDS - INFECTED SINGAPORE RESIDENTS BY ETHNIC GROUP
(1985 – 2019)
| Ethnic Group | 1985 - 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019
| Total | |
|
| Chinese | 4290 | 356 | 323 | 301 | 340 | 275 | 299 | 209 | 197
| 6590 | |
| Malay | 628 | 80 | 94 | 90 | 72 | 88 | 82 | 59 | 92
| 1285 | |
| Indian | 240 | 22 | 22 | 41 | 22 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 20
| 452 | |
| Others | 148 | 11 | 15 | 24 | 21 | 16 | 26 | 16 | 14
| 291 | |
| Total | 5306 | 469 | 454 | 456 | 455 | 408 | 434 | 313 | 323
| 8618 | |
TABLE 5
HIV/AIDS - INFECTED MALE SINGAPORE RESIDENTS BY AGE AND MODES OF TRANSMISSION (1985 – 2019)
| Age group | 1986 - 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Total |
| Male | Heterosexual | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 – 19 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2
| 11 |
| 20 – 29 | 270 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 17 | 8 | 5
| 367 |
| 30 – 39 | 724 | 25 | 23 | 29 | 25 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 25
| 903 |
| 40 – 49 | 848 | 42 | 36 | 50 | 41 | 30 | 31 | 25 | 21
| 1124 |
| 50 – 59 | 583 | 68 | 52 | 49 | 34 | 41 | 38 | 38 | 32
| 935 |
| | 60 & above | 439 | 39 | 38 | 39 | 30 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 28
| 689 |
| | Total | 2870 | 189 | 163 | 183 | 144 | 121 | 132 | 114 | 113
| 4029 |
| Homosexual/Bisexual | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 – 19 | 31 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6
| 65 |
| 20 – 29 | 449 | 72 | 70 | 61 | 80 | 82 | 77 | 45 | 41
| 977 |
| 30 – 39 | 686 | 81 | 77 | 75 | 93 | 67 | 75 | 42 | 51
| 1247 |
| 40 – 49 | 385 | 58 | 66 | 50 | 56 | 60 | 62 | 41 | 51
| 829 |
| 50 – 59 | 97 | 12 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 38 | 26 | 29
| 315 |
| | 60 & above | 18 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6
| 56 |
| | Total | 1666 | 236 | 248 | 223 | 267 | 241 | 261 | 163 | 184
| 3489 |
| Others | | | | | | | | | | |
| 0 – 14 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0
| 19 |
| 15 –19 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1
| 13 |
| 20 –29 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3
| 47 |
| 30 –39 | 83 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1
| 102 |
| 40 –49 | 69 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 5
| 98 |
| 50 –59 | 37 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1
| 62 |
| | 60 & above | 11 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0
| 26 |
| | Total | 253 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 11
| 367 |
| Total | | | | | | | | | | |
| 0 – 14 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0
| 19 |
| 15 – 19 | 43 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 9
| 89 |
| 20 – 29 | 749 | 89 | 86 | 82 | 95 | 93 | 95 | 53 | 49
| 1391 |
| 30 – 39 | 1493 | 108 | 102 | 108 | 120 | 87 | 97 | 60 | 77
| 2252 |
| 40 – 49 | 1302 | 103 | 108 | 101 | 100 | 95 | 98 | 67 | 77
| 2051 |
| 50 – 59 | 717 | 82 | 86 | 80 | 67 | 70 | 79 | 69 | 62
| 1312 |
| | 60 & above | 468 | 45 | 44 | 45 | 36 | 30 | 32 | 37 | 34
| 771 |
| | | Total | 4789 | 437 | 428 | 422 | 423 | 380 | 408 | 290 | 308
| 7885 |
TABLE 6
HIV/AIDS - INFECTED FEMALE SINGAPORE RESIDENTS BY AGE AND MODES OF TRANSMISSION (1985 – 2019)
| Age group | 1985-2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019
| Total |
| Female | Sexual | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 – 19 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
| 12 |
| 20 – 29 | 137 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 1
| 166 |
| 30 – 39 | 133 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4
| 175 |
| 40 – 49 | 92 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4
| 144 |
| 50 – 59 | 68 | 12 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4
| 121 |
| | 60& above | 39 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2
| 67 |
| | Total | 478 | 32 | 25 | 34 | 29 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 15
| 685 |
| Others | | | | | | | | | | |
| 0 – 14 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
| 15 |
| 15 –19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0
| 1 |
| 20 –29 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
| 6 |
| 30 –39 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0
| 10 |
| 40 –49 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0
| 10 |
| 50 –59 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0
| 3 |
| | 60 & above | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0
| 3 |
| | Total | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0
| 48 |
| Total | | | | | | | | | | |
| 0 – 14 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
| 15 |
| 15 – 19 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0
| 13 |
| 20 – 29 | 143 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 1
| 172 |
| 30 – 39 | 141 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4
| 185 |
| 40 – 49 | 99 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4
| 154 |
| 50 – 59 | 69 | 12 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4
| 124 |
| | 60 & above | 41 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2
| 70 |
| | Total | 517 | 32 | 26 | 34 | 32 | 28 | 26 | 23 | 15
| 733 |
[1] Singapore citizens and permanent residents
[2] CD4+ cell count of less than 200 per cu mm or AIDS-defining opportunistic infections or both
[3] Includes cases that presented with HIV-specific symptoms and cases with non-HIV related medical conditions
[4] Includes screening programmes for individuals with sexually transmitted infections, hospital inpatients and those
identified through contact tracing