And it cited studies in Australia and the United States showing that increasing numbers of young homosexual men are indulging in risky behavior with unprotected sexual intercourse and frequent partners. A total of 13.2 million children have been orphaned since the disease first spread. In seven of these, at least one adult in five is infected. Women are harder hit than men. AIDS has become a full-blown development crisis,'' the report said.
Denial continues to be a problem.
Although all knew of the disease, none of them believed their parents had died of it and most thought witchcraft or a curse was to blame. In an otherwise grim picture, there are a few success stories. Despite earlier fears of an epidemic sweeping Asia, the general rate of infection remains generally low. In Thailand, the heterosexual epidemic has been curbed, although the virus is spreading fast through shared needles and unprotected sex between men. Vigorous campaigns in India have helped contain the disease in high-risk groups and boosted hopes that the densely populated nation may be able to avert mass heterosexual infections.