The national study of over 2,000 eighteen to thirty-five year olds from 21 provinces, also showed that although there is virtually universal awareness of HIV/AIDS, only one in four (26%) of sexually experienced people had ever used a condom.

“Considering that Cambodia has the highest HIV prevalence in Asia, this is very disturbing news, and something we will try to change with our campaign,” said Giselle Portenier, Head of Project at the BBC WST.

The BBC WST has teamed up with the Royal Government of Cambodia and is running a massive HIV/AIDS and Maternal and Child Health media Campaign on Cambodian TV and Radio over the next two years, including a 60 episode Soap Opera, 55 TV spots, and 60 Radio spots.

In his introductory remarks, H.E. Eng Hout, Secretary of State for Health, told the audience at the Sunway Hotel “Cambodia faces a new phase in the epidemic, with an estimated half of new infections being passed from husband to wife and one third from mothers to children.”

The big challenge of the campaign, said Portenier, is to reduce HIV transmission from husband to wife. “We have to first, encourage married couples to get tested. Then, as difficult as it will be, we have to try to find ways of increasing condom use within marriage.”

Right now, condom use among married couples is virtually non-existent. In the BBC study, only 6% of married women said they had used a condom the last time they had sex.

The KAP study also showed that nearly half (44%) of those questioned did not know that condoms could be used for birth control.

That is a fact, Portenier said, that the campaign will use to try to encourage condom use in established partnerships. ”We need to increase condom use in the bedrooms of the nation, by destigmatizing condoms, encouraging couples to talk more openly about sex, and informing Cambodians that condoms have a dual use as both HIV/Aids prevention and contraception. “

The KAP study, conducted last March, will serve two functions. First, the research will help guide the BBC team in preparing carefully targeted messaging to counter the spread of the virus and reduce stigma affecting people living with HIV/Aids. Second, it will serve as a benchmark against which the BBC WST will measure the impact of its multi-media campaign.

Other highlights from the study:

• 39% of sexually active single men did not use a condom the last time they’d had sex
• 79% of sexually active men cited HIV/AIDS as their reason for using condoms
• 54% of those questioned never talk about sexual intercourse
• 43% want to be tested for HIV
• 55% don’t know where they can get tested
• 93% said they feel PLWHA have the same rights as non-HIV+ people
• 57% would want to keep a relative’s HIV+ status secret

For further information, please contact:

David Wood
Head of Project
BBC Word Service Trust
+855 23-430-555
david.wood@bbcwst.org.kh