Over 100 infected with HIV through transactional sex

More than 100 individuals were diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) last August after they engaged in transactional sex, the Department of Health (DoH) reported yesterday.

The DoH-Epidemiology Bureau said that of the 1,047 new HIV cases recorded in the said month, 128 cases were attributed to transactional sex.

“In August 2018, 12 percent (128 cases) of the newly diagnosed engaged in transactional sex,” according to the health department.

The DoH said people who engaged in transactional sex are those who reported that they either pay for sex, regularly accept payment for sex, or do both.

The health department said that of those who accepted payment for sex, 44 were males and three were females.

Sixty-two of those who paid for sex were males.

Meanwhile, 19 men acquired the virus after engaging in both schemes of transactional sex.