MANILA, Philippines — Cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to paid sex exceeded a thousand last year, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.
According to the HIV and AIDS Registry, at least 96 additional cases in November pushed to 1,020 the total number of people who got infected with the potentially deadly infection after engaging in “transactional sex” during the first 11 months of 2017.
“People who engage in transactional sex are those who report that they pay for sex, regularly accept payment for sex, or do both,” health experts said.
Of the 96 cases, 42 males reported that they acquired HIV after paying for sex while 35 females and one male said they acquired HIV after accepting payment.
A total of 16 males and two females got infected after engaging in both types of paid sex.
Since December 2012, the DOH has recorded a total of 4,542 people who acquired HIV through transactional sex.