ASIA/AFGHANISTAN - Armed conflicts, misinformation, lack of access to basic social services, drug addicts and precarious social status of women among the causes of the increase in HIV/AIDS

Kabul (Agenzia Fides) – In the past nine months in Afghanistan, more than 50 people have been found HIV positive. The number of infections is thus increased to 556, according to the National HIV/AIDS Control Program. Most of those infected have contracted the virus through the use of syringes. The Health Ministry estimates that the country there are 2-3 thousand people with HIV/AIDS. The 0.5 percent prevalence of the virus is considered among the lowest in the world. Among the main factors that led to the rapid spread of the virus are: armed conflicts, misinformation on HIV/AIDS, lack of access to basic social services such as health education, the increase of drug users and the precarious social state of women. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 5/11/2009)