China promotes faithful relationships for elderly as HIV/Aids cases rise in over 50s

Rising infection rates attributed to loneliness, a lack of understanding about safe sex and reluctance to discuss it with doctors

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China is among countries facing rising HIV/AIDS cases among its elderly population. An estimated quarter of people living with HIV globally were aged 50 years and over in 2023, according to UNAIDS. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:00pm, 3 Dec 2024

China’s health authorities have called for elderly people to be faithful to their partners and refrain from seeking prostitutes as the country attempts to combat a rise in Aids cases among its older population.

Liu Yufen, deputy director of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Aids prevention centre, said there was a growing trend of new infections among those aged 50 and above, mainly affecting men, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Sunday.

The report cited suggestions from the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, including raising public awareness and encouraging married couples to maintain a faithful sexual relationship. It also said elderly people should adopt a “healthy and civilised” lifestyle.

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The report said that while the overall number of new reported cases was falling, and other sources of infection had been effectively controlled, sexual transmission remained a primary source of infection.

The renewed calls came on World Aids Day on Sunday.

A rise in new infections among elderly is of concern as the world’s second-largest economy grapples with the mounting pressures of a rapidly greying population.

In 2023, the number of people aged 60 and above reached 297 million, accounting for more than 21 per cent of the total population in China, according to official data. The population aged 65 and over exceeded 216 million – 15.4 per cent of the total.