Programmatic Implications of National Recent HIV Infection Surveillance in Cambodia

We compared characteristics of HIV diagnosis and recent HIV infection (ie, likely acquired within the last year) in Cambodia. We included individuals = 15 years old accessing HIV testing. From August 2020 to August 2022, 53 031 people were tested for HIV, 6868 were newly diagnosed, and 192 were recently infected. We found differences in geographical burden and risk behaviors with diagnosis and recency (eg, men who have sex with men, transgender women, and entertainment workers had a nearly 2-fold increased odds of testing positive for recent infection compared to being diagnosed with HIV). Recent infection surveillance may provide unique insights into ongoing HIV acquisition to inform programs.

Automated summary

We compared characteristics of HIV diagnosis and recent infection in Cambodia, finding differences in geographical burden and risk behaviors. Men who have sex with men, transgender women, and entertainment workers had a higher risk of recent infection. Monitoring recent infections can provide valuable information for HIV programs.