El Caribe carries details of a national survey on health, which has found that more women than men are living with HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic. The highest incidence is in the east of the country, in the provinces of La Romana, Higuey and El Seybo, and over half the population do not believe themselves to be at risk. The most vulnerable to infection are the poor and young people living in areas of high urban concentration. On a national level the incidence of infection is 1.1%, while in the bateyes, it is potentially as high as 12%, says the survey. Maria Castillo of USAID’s “Health and Population” project said that “overconfidence is risk”, referring to the fact that many people polled were unaware of the risks of contracting the virus. The survey also highlighted the stigma of HIV/AIDS, with 35% of those interviewed believing that sufferers should keep their condition a secret. Only 60% thought that people with HIV/AIDS should be allowed to attend school.