HIV/AIDS: Oceania

Australasia

Australasia consists of the countries of Australia and New Zealand, as well as the dependencies of Christmas Island, Coco Islands, and Norfolk Island. HIV/AIDS has been successfully managed in Australasia, as prevalence estimates are 0.2 percent for Australia and 0.05 percent for New Zealand, which are well below the rates of other Western countries. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS among non-Indigenous populations has been declining for a number of years, though increasing among Indigenous populations (Aborigines, Torres Strait Islanders, and the Maori).

There is also a significant difference in the modes of transmission between these groups. Among non-Indigenous peoples, sexual contact between men account for the majority of infections. Among Indigenous groups, sexual contact between men is still the main mode of transmission, though the rate of infection from intravenous drug use is significantly higher. Finally, women account for a greater proportion of HIV/AIDS cases among Indigenous groups than in the non-Indigenous population, which points to their marginalization within their communities. All of this is consistent with the low health status and marginalization of Indigenous populations within Australasia.

Melanesia

Melanesia consists of the countries of Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and the dependency of New Caledonia. Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu report few cases (less than 0.2 percent prevalence) of HIV/AIDS, though rates are on the rise, leading to fears of generalized epidemics in these countries. All of the Melanesian countries have experienced political instability in the recent past and rank poorly in development indicators, suggesting that their governments may be unable to launch effective responses to any epidemics. New Caledonia also reports few cases, but because of its status as a dependency of [Page 707]France, it is both more developed and better situated to avoid an epidemic.

PNG is in the midst of a generalized HIV/AIDS epidemic, and prevalence is estimated at 1.5 percent (approximately 55,000 cases). Excluding Australasia, PNG accounts for more than 99 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases in Oceania. PNG's epidemic can be attributed to a slow and weak response from the national government, the low status of women, widespread sexual violence, high levels of STIs, high risk sexual practices (including multiple-partners, unprotected intercourse, and commercial sex), a highly mobile population, sociocultural changes brought on by rapid modernization, low levels of access to social services, and poor knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Papua New Guinean females have borne the brunt of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which is attributed to a decline in their status. For example, bride prices have inflated and women are now commonly seen as pieces of property that are purchased through the transfer of cash, while sexual and domestic violence are all prevalent problems that women and girls in PNG confront. The epidemic in PNG is expected to worsen in the coming years because of the continued existence of the factors that led to the outbreak. The Papua New Guinean government has been unable to launch an effective response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and remains dependent upon resources from donor countries, primarily Australia.

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