Lack of needle-exchange programs in North America and parts of Europe has condemned drug addicts to continuing high levels of infection, it said. 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.