HIV/AIDS in Cambodia

Cambodia has the highest adult HIV prevalence (3% - UNAIDS, December 2003) in Southeast Asia with the majority of new infections among young adults. Prevalence rates are especially high among IDUs (Injecting Drug Users) and 'direct' and 'indirect' sex workers (bargirls, beer promotors, massage and karaoke girls). Prevalence levels have dropped significantly among brothel based sex workers from 43% in 1998 to 29% in 2002. Prevalence has also dropped among urban police, both police and brothel based sex workers have experienced a reduction in prevalence due to a strong condom promotion program supported by the Cambodian Government and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs).

The Cambodian Ministry of Health estimated that if the condom promotion program was not implemented, Cambodia would have seen three times the HIV infections.

Cambodia has followed Thailand in promoting condom use among sex workers. As a result of this, condom use with commercial sex partners has increased among police (81.3%), direct sex workers (78.1%), military (69.8%), and indirect sex workers (38.2%).

These statistics suggest that behavior change is beginning to contribute to curbing the AIDS epidemic in Cambodia.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has a large impact on the private sector. The rapidly expanding garment industry (the large industry and employer) in Cambodia has been the driving factor behind a large migration of mainly young rural females to Phnom Penh. Vulnerability due to migration, linked with misconceptions about sexual health issues and lack of awareness of appropriate health services increases their sexual health risks.

Research conducted by CARE Cambodia reveals higher sexual risk-taking behaviour among young adult workers in factories as they gain access to cash income, lack of parental control and increased independence.

Private Sector Initiatives

CARE Youth Reproductive Health program in Garment Factories

CARE conducts a Youth Reproductive Health program in 25 garment factories in Phnom Penh. The program targets young, mostly female, garment workers.

The overall goal of the program is to increase the use of reproductive health services and improve sexual health practices of youth through enhanced capacity of local governmental, non-governmental and private sector organizations. Adolescents now consider it natural for young people to want to have sweethearts and experiment with sex and many are having sex by their mid teens. Sexual awakening, loneliness, distance from family, absence of parents’ authority, opportunities to have many friends combined with the feeling of freedom can lead to risky sexual behavior. Young people are especially vulnerable to health risks related to sexuality and reproduction; HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unwanted pregnancy, and too early marriage and child-bearing.

The program aims to engage factory owners to improve the quality and access to health care services and health education by providing intensive training addressing knowledge, misunderstandings and social norms that put vulnerable group of mainly female, uneducated and low-paid workers at risk of Sexual reproductive health problems.

Activities

The program works to help young workers reduce their reproductive and sexual health risks by implementing a variety of activities in our target factories, these activities are divided into three components as follows:(1) Capacity building of factory health providers to provide quality services to young workers and strengthen health referral networks to external service providers.

(a) Provide training on Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS transmission and risk reduction, STI diagnosis and Contraceptive counseling

(b)Social Marketing of Contraception within the factories

(2) A health education program, including HIV/AIDS prevention, which is carried out by local NGO partners in the factories. Intensive use is made of Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) methods to train selected garment workers as health volunteers and to foster informal peer networks of factory workers to participate in and support factory-based health promotion activities.

>Provide life skill training;

>Refresher training;

>Peer educators;

>Youth corners;

>Suggestion box and radio system; and

>Information board

3) Advocacy with garment management, NGOs, private sector networks (GMAC) and government agencies, aiming to influence the institutional and policy environments to improve standards of health and safety in garment factories in Cambodia.

> Set up Advocacy working group – Coordination Team for Reproductive Health Project CTRHP

>Reproductive Health training for Chinese Middle Managers, conducted in Chinese.

>Partnership and collaboration with Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Vocational training and Youth (MoSALVY) in the implementation of HIV/AIDS code of conduct in the workplace.

The Garment Industry

More than 250 garment factories in Cambodia employ over 190,000 workers (90% young females). This rapidly growing industry now accounts for 90% of the country's export earning attracting mostly regional investors from Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. With deepening rural poverty and many people no longer able to support themselves, a constant stream of labour arrives daily in Phnom Penh.

Participating garment factories are:

1. Gennon Garment Manufacturing Ltd;

2. Supreme Garments Pte. Ltd;

3. June Textiles Co. Ltd;

4. Tack Fat Garment Ltd;

5. Pak Shun Knitting Factory Ltd;

6. Thai Pore Garment Manufacturing Co. Ltd;

7. PCCS Garments Ltd;

8. PDC Garment Ltd;

9. Wearwel Cambodia Ltd;

10. QMI Industrial Co. Ltd;

11. Wilson Garment Co. Ltd;

12. Sportex Industry C. Ltd;

14. Suntex Pte Ltd

15. Leun Thai Co. Ltd;

16. CAMBODIA SPORTWEAR MFG LTD;

17. Archid Garment Cambodia Ltd;

18. New Island Clothing (Cambodia) Ltd;

19. Yung Wah Industry (Cambodia) Co., Ltd;

21. Jusca Garment Ltd;

22. CHP Garment Factory Co., Ltd;

23. San San Garment (Cambodia) Co., Ltd;24. You Cheng Garment Co., Ltd;

25. Eternity Apparel (Cambodia) Co., Ltd .

About CARE International in Cambodia

CARE is one of the world's leading private development and relief organizations, operating in nearly 70 countries. CARE has worked in Cambodia for over 27 years, mainly providing medical assistance. Mission of CARE in Cambodia is to work in partnership with disadvantaged communities as they strive to build self-reliance and make sustainable improvements in their livelihoods and environment. CARE is actively involved in initiating a business response to HIV/AIDS and other workplace related health problems. Contact information

CARE International in Cambodia

Attn: Ms. Socheat Chi (Reproductive Health Manager), or:

Ms. Sharon Wilkinson (Country Director)

#52, Street 352, Boeung Keng Kang 1

Chamcar Morn, Phnom Penh (PO Box 537)

Tel: (+855-23) 215-267-9. Fax: (+855-23) 426-233.

Email: care.cam

National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STD

Attn: Dr. Seng Sut Wantha (Deputy Director)

Ministry of Health

#170, Preah Sihanouk Boulevard, Phnom Penh

Tel/fax: (855-23) 216-515

Download documents

You can download documents on private sector response to HIV/AIDS in Cambodia here. Cambodia: briefer project publications CARE Cambodia: project briefer CARE

Contact information

CARE International in Cambodia

Attn: Ms. Socheat (Reproductive Health Manager), or:
Ms. Sharon Wilkinson (Country Director)
#52, Street 352, Boeung Keng Kang 1
Chamcar Morn, Phnom Penh (PO Box 537)
Tel: (+855-23) 215-267-9. Fax: (+855-23) 426-233.
Email: care.cam

National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STD

Attn: Dr. Seng Sut Wantha (Deputy Director)
Ministry of Health
#170, Preah Sihanouk Boulevard, Phnom Penh
Tel/fax: (855-23) 216-515

Download documents

You can download documents on private sector response to HIV/AIDS in Cambodia here.

Cambodia: briefer project publications CARE

Cambodia: project briefer CARE