asians undercover
estimated," says Parminder.
"We know the increase is among gay men and heterosexuals rather
than in IV drug users, but we also know that south Asians do not understand
or access HIV services here like Africans do."
Transmission and double lives
So it appears that, until now, the south Asian epidemic has been contained.
But there are questions around whether the system of arranged marriages
and its lack of concern for potential partners' sexual history could still
be a genuine risk for HIV transmission between countries.
There are also concerns about married south Asian gay men, many of whom
lead double lives and therefore miss out on prevention messages and diagnosis
until it is too late. This means the HIV infection statistics reported
for the British Asian community could be concealing a resent increase
in HIV cases.
Suki Sandhu runs the male sexual health group for Naz South Asians. He
says: "They haven't been specifically targeted and it seems they
aren't accessing services. I'm sure Asian men are putting themselves at
risk in venues like saunas and gay bars, but out of the small group of
positive men I know, there is little acknowledgement of HIV status.
"I believe in a year we will see more south Asians here with HIV,
but this will become evident from GUM clinic information rather than showing
up in PHLS figures. The only way diagnoses are made known is generally
through people getting sick, or women presenting late in pregnancy. Of
course, the whole concept of prevention and risk
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and going for testing or check-ups is in complete contrast with the idea of
