MORE than 500 people in the country acquired the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) after engaging in transactional or paid sex, according to the latest data provided by the Department of Health (DOH).
In its October to December 2024 HIV and AIDS Surveillance of the Philippines report, the DOH disclosed that 531 newly diagnosed HIV cases in the country involved transactional sex.
“In October to December 2024, a total of 531 of the newly diagnosed engaged in transactional sex within the past 12 months,” said the DOH.
The report showed that 222 of the cases who paid for sex were all males.
A total of 193, meanwhile, are those who accepted payment for sex, including 183 males and 10 females.
On the other hand, 116 of the cases engaged in both transactions, including 114 males and two females.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, a total of 4,050 newly reported cases had acquired HIV through sexual contact.
From October to December 2024, there were 4,245 confirmed HIV cases reported across the country, 14% higher than cases recorded in the same quarter in 2023.
