‘Use of Internet, text messaging to increase AIDS cases in Phl’

MANILA, Philippines – An expert from the AIDS Society of the Philippines (ASP) yesterday expressed concern that the increasing use of the Internet and text messaging will further propel HIV/AIDS cases to soar in the country.

According to ASP consultant Dr. Ma. Isabel Melgar, there are indications that the rising cases of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines are associated with the increasing number of Filipinos who are exposed to cyberspace and text messaging.

“You can see it now. For us in the health sector, it’s already an alarming acceleration… But there is no data to support it,” she said in an interview after ASP’s forum on “Social Media on HIV and AIDS: A Barrier or an Opportunity.”

Melgar noted that studies in the Philippines on cyber technology hardly touch on its relationship to the rapid increase in HIV/AIDS cases.

“There may be a correlation or an association. The prevalence (of HIV/AIDS) is increasing but nobody   really looked into it, if they had sexual interaction through the Internet or if they had sexual activity with their Internet partner,” she said.

But Melgar said that during ASP’s counseling sessions, there were HIV-positive people who admitted having sex with others that they met through social networking sites and text.

“There are studies done abroad on the correlation of HIV and Internet use. There’s none here, we are lagging behind. A colleague said Internet usage itself may be a high risk factor. Considered among the high risk factors for HIV is non-use of condoms,” she said.

Citing studies of McCann-Erickson Phl, Melgar said that from year 2000 to 2005, Internet use had increased but the “usual leisure” with families and “face-to-face” interaction with friends went up.

“There had been a phenomenal change in the concept of friends. And there is an uphill trend in the use of various Internet sites,” she said.

She underscored the need to focus intervention programs on HIV/AIDS also on cyber technology to help prevent the continuing spread of the virus in the country.

Melgar encouraged those who might have engaged in “risk factors” for the AIDS virus to avail of the free HIV testing from ASP.

The project is being financed by the Global Fund, an international financing institution that is working to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. –Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star)