By CHARINA CLARISSE L. ECHALUCE
More than a hundred individuals were infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through transactional sex in October 2017, the Department of Health(DoH) reported.
Based on the latest HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines (HARP) report, 116 new cases of HIV were acquired through paid sex.
“People who engage in transactional sex are those who report that they pay for sex, regularly accept payment for sex, or do both,” said the HARP report.
A total of 65 male patients got HIV after they paid for sex
Meanwhile, 29 individuals acquired HIV after accepting payment for sex. All were also males.
Moreover, a total of 19 males and three females became infected after engaging in both types of paid sex.
The 116 reported HIV cases acquired through transactional sex are 13 percent of the 918 reported in October 2017.
From December 2012 to October 2017, 4,446 people have acquired HIV through transactional sex.