UPDATE ON THE HIV/AIDS SITUATION IN SINGAPORE 2020 (JUNE 2021)

09 Jun 2021

UPDATE ON THE HIV/AIDS SITUATION IN SINGAPORE 2020 (JUNE 2021) 

      There were 261 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections reported among Singapore residents[1] in 2020. This brings the total number of HIV-infected Singapore residents to 8,879 as of end 2020, of whom 2,146 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 had decreased to about 320 in 2018 and 2019.

2.   Of the 261 cases:
i. 92% were male;
ii. 60% were between ages of 20 to 49 years; and
iii. About 53% had late-stage HIV infection[2] at diagnosis. This is similar to the proportion of 52% for the same period last year.


3.   Sexual intercourse remains the main mode of HIV transmission, accounting for 95% of the 261 cases. Homosexual transmission was the mode of transmission for 48% of all cases, while 37% were from heterosexual transmission and 11% from bisexual transmission.

4.   52% of the newly reported cases were detected during the course of medical care  and typically at a late stage of HIV infection. Another 24% were detected during routine programmatic HIV screening[3]  and 16% were detected from self-initiated HIV screening. The rest were detected through other types of screening[4]. Cases detected via self-initiated screening tended to be at the early stage of infection. A higher proportion of homosexuals/bisexuals (24%) had their HIV infection detected via self-initiated HIV screening compared to heterosexuals (6%). 

5.   Annex A provides detailed data on the cases reported. Information on newly reported HIV cases is regularly updated on the MOH website.

Public Advisory

6.    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.

7.    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[5]. Regular HIV testing can help diagnose an infected person at an early stage of infection. Early diagnosis, allows for early treatment and care, and provides the opportunity for those infected to learn about protecting their partners from infection. With early and effective treatment, persons living with HIV can delay the onset of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) for many years and continue to lead an active and productive life.

7.    HPB has been working with partner organisations to conduct programmes and campaigns to encourage high-risk individuals to take proactive measures, such as going for early and regular HIV testing. Adopting a lifestyle-based approach, these programmes engage such individuals via social settings to increase the targeted reach.

8.     Overcoming HIV/AIDS requires both individual and community effort. We can all do our part to create supportive environments to encourage individuals at risk to come forward to be tested early for HIV, and for those diagnosed to receive treatment. For more information on HIV prevention, please refer to www.healthhub.sg.

[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 screening programmes for individuals with sexually transmitted infections, hospital inpatients and those identified through contact tracing
[4] General health screening, medical checks for employment, insurance, etc.
[5] HIV testing is available at polyclinics, private clinics and hospitals. In addition, HIV testing can be done at ten anonymous HIV test sites located across Singapore, where personal details are not required when signing up for a HIV test. 


ANNEX  

TABLE 1

NUMBER OF SINGAPORE RESIDENTS REPORTED WITH HIV /AIDS

(1985 – 2020)  

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 30815 323 8.0 
2020 241 20 261 6.5

Total

8126

753

8879

-

*Per 100,000 resident population.


TABLE 2

DISTRIBUTION OF HIV/AIDS - INFECTED SINGAPORE RESIDENTS

BY MODES OF TRANSMISSION

(1985 – 2020)  

Mode of Transmission

1985 - 2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Total

Sexual Transmission

 

Heterosexual

3748

217

173

148

155

135

128

96

4800

Homosexual

1713

181

232

213

218

132

160

125

2974

Bisexual

446

42

35

28

44

31

26

28

680

Intravenous drug use

115

1

4

4

0

1

1

3

129

Blood Transfusion

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

Renal Transplant overseas

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

Perinatal (mother to child)

31

0

0

2*

1*

0

0

0

34

Uncertain/Others

168

15

11

13

16

14

8

9

254

Total

6229

456

455

408

434

313

323

261

8879

*Transmission occurred overseas

TABLE 3

HIV/AIDS - INFECTED SINGAPORE RESIDENTS

BY MARITAL STATUS AND SEX

(1985 – 2020)  

Marital status

1985 - 2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Total

Male

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Single

3557

287

321

282

316

199

214

176

5352

 

Married

1499

102

64

68

65

68

67

52

1985

 

Divorced/Separated

495

27

29

24

23

12

22

13

645

 

Widowed

103

6

9

6

4

11

5

0

144

 

Total

5654

422

423

380

408

290

308

241

8126

Female

 

 

 

 

Single

117

4

5

1

7

6

2

6

148

 

Married

329

22

18

16

11

11

9

10

426

 

Divorced/Separated

86

6

9

9

7

3

3

3

126

 

Widowed

43

2

0

2

1

3

1

1

53

 

Total

575

34

32

28

26

23

15

20

753

Total

 

 

 

 

 

Single

3674

291

326

283

323

205

216

182

5500

 

Married

1828

124

82

84

76

79

76

62

2411

 

Divorced/Separated

581

33

38

33

30

15

25

16

771

 

Widowed

146

8

9

8

5

14

6

1

197

 

Total

6229

456

455

408

434

313

323

261

8879

 

TABLE 4

HIV/AIDS - INFECTED SINGAPORE RESIDENTS BY ETHNIC GROUP

(1985 – 2020)  

Ethnic Group

1985 - 2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Total

Chinese

4969

301

340

275

299

209

197

172

6762

Malay

801

90

72

88

82

59

92

65

1349

Indian

285

41

22

29

27

29

20

15

468

Others

174

24

21

16

26

16

14

9

300

Total

6229

456

455

408

434

313

323

261

8879


TABLE 5

HIV/AIDS - INFECTED MALE SINGAPORE RESIDENTS BY AGE AND MODES OF TRANSMISSION (1985 – 2020)  

Age group

1985 - 2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Total

Male

Heterosexual

 

 

15 – 19

6

1

1

0

1

0

2

0

11

20 – 29

299

15

13

10

17

8

5

2

369

30 – 39

772

29

25

17

19

16

25

13

916

40 – 49

926

50

41

30

31

25

21

12

1136

50 – 59

703

49

34

41

38

38

32

28

963

 

60 & above

516

39

30

23

26

27

28

22

711

 

Total

3222

183

144

121

132

114

113

77

4106

Homosexual/Bisexual

 

 

 

 

15 – 19

41

5

4

2

4

3

6

5

70

20 – 29

591

61

80

82

77

45

42

32

1010

30 – 39

844

75

93

67

75

42

52

49

1297

40 – 49

509

50

56

60

62

41

51

36

865

50 – 59

140

28

29

25

38

26

29

21

336

 

60 & above

25

4

5

5

5

6

6

10

66

 

Total

2150

223

267

241

261

163

186

153

3644

Others

 

 

 

 

0 – 14

17

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

19

15 –19

8

0

0

1

2

1

1

0

13

20 –29

34

6

2

1

1

0

2

0

46

30 –39

87

4

2

3

3

2

0

3

104

40 –49

78

1

3

5

5

1

5

1

99

50 –59

42

3

4

4

3

5

1

3

65

 

60 & above

16

2

1

2

1

4

0

4

30

 

Total

282

16

12

18

15

13

9

11

376

Total

 

 

 

 

0 – 14

17

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

19

15 – 19

55

6

5

3

7

4

9

5

94

20 – 29

924

82

95

93

95

53

49

34

1425

30 – 39

1703

108

120

87

97

60

77

65

2317

40 – 49

1513

101

100

95

98

67

77

49

2100

50 – 59

885

80

67

70

79

69

62

52

1364

 

60 & above

557

45

36

30

32

37

34

36

807

 

 

Total

5654

422

423

380

408

290

308

241

8126


TABLE 6

HIV/AIDS - INFECTED FEMALE SINGAPORE RESIDENTS BY AGE AND MODES OF TRANSMISSION (1985 – 2020)  

Age group

1985 - 2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Total

Female

Sexual

 

 

15 – 19

11

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

13

20 – 29

145

2

2

5

7

4

1

0

166

30 – 39

145

8

8

3

3

4

4

5

180

40 – 49

105

9

9

7

6

4

4

3

147

50 – 59

84

9

7

8

5

4

4

7

128

 

60& above

45

5

3

4

3

5

2

3

70

 

Total

535

34

29

27

24

21

15

19

704

Others

 

 

 

0 – 14

15

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

15

15 –19

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

20 –29

6

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

7

30 –39

8

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

10

40 –49

8

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

10

50 –59

1

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

3

 

60 & above

2

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

3

 

Total

40

0

3

1

2

2

0

1

49

Total

 

 

 

0 – 14

15

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

15

15 – 19

11

1

0

0

1

0

0

1

14

20 – 29

151

2

2

5

7

4

1

1

173

30 – 39

153

8

9

4

3

4

4

5

190

40 – 49

113

9

10

7

6

5

4

3

157

50 – 59

85

9

8

8

5

5

4

7

131

 

60 & above

47

5

3

4

4

5

2

3

73

 

Total

575

34

32

28

26

23

15

20

753