Addressing a public health paradox in the Philippines: Rising HIV infections among youth amid expanding PrEP uptake

Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no competing interests.

Funding

The author received no extramural funding for the study.

Publisher’s note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Edited by Zhang Q, Lei Y, Pan Y

References

[1] GBD 2021 HIV Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of HIV/AIDS, 1990-2021, and forecasts to 2050, for 204 countries and territories: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet HIV 2024; 11(12): e807-e822. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3018(24)00212-1.

[2] Mutalange M, Siame L, Cheelo C, Masenga SK, Hamooya BM. Kidney impairment in HIV: An insight into the burden and associated factors among adults on antiretroviral therapy in Zambia. A retrospective crosssectional study. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2025; 12: 20499361251340795. doi: 10.1177/20499361251340795.

[3] Pitua I, Kirya M, Kiberu D, Nabaasa S, Namiiro AM, Segawa MC, et al. Characteristics and treatment outcomes of adolescents and young adults living with HIV with drug-resistant tuberculosis co-infection in Uganda: A retrospective cohort study. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2025; 12: 20499361251319655. doi: 10.1177/20499361251319655.

[4] Alibudbud R. The Philippine HIV crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic: A worsening crisis. Public Health 2021; 200: e1. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.09.008.

[5] Gangcuangco LMA, Eustaquio PC. The state of the HIV epidemic in the Philippines: Progress and challenges in 2023. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8(5): 258. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed8050258.

[6] Cahatol M. Philippines: ABS-CBN News. HIV cases in PH rise by 500% among ages 15-25: DOH 2025. [Online]. Available from: https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/6/3/hiv-cases-in-ph-rise-by-500-among-ages-15-25-doh-0944. [Accessed on 9 June 2025].

[7] Alibudbud R. HIV care services and the executive orders of the United States on USAID: Insights from the Philippines. Asian Pac J Trop Med 2025; 18(4): 147-148. doi: 10.4103/apjtm.apjtm_113_25.

[8] Abanto R. Philippines: ABS-CBN News. US aid cut to Philippines' HIV programs leaves some clinics in limbo as cases soar 2025. [Online]. Available from: https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/6/7/us-aid-cut-to-philippines-hiv-programs-leaves-some-clinics-in-limbo-as-cases-soar-0805. [Accessed on 9 June 2025].

[9] Alibudbud RC. The triple stigma of HIV and chemsex among gays, bisexuals, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the Philippines. Asian Pac J Trop Med 2022; 15(11): 477-478. doi: 10.4103/1995-7645.359791.

[10] Alibudbud R. Balancing the dual role of religion in HIV and healthcare services: Insights from the Philippines. Asian Pac J Trop Med 2025; 18(6): 241-242. doi: 10.4103/apjtm.apjtm_648_24.

[11] FHI 360. When supply meets demand: PrEP scale-up in the Philippines. 2024. [Online]. Available from: https://www.fhi360.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/resource-epic-philippines-prep-success-story.pdf. [Accessed on 31 July 2025].

[12] UNAIDS . Key results in 2022-2023. [Online]. Available from: https://open.unaids.org/countries/philippines. [Accessed on 31 July 2025].

[13] Javier JR, Galura K, Aliganga FAP, Supan J, Palinkas LA. Voices of the Filipino community describing the importance of family in understanding adolescent behavioral health needs. Fam Community Health 2018; 41(1): 64-71. doi: 10.1097/FCH.0000000000000173.