The latest census has revealed that the incidence of HIV-positive and AIDS patients in the ?bateyes? (farm worker?s housing, usually in sugar cane areas) has reached 5% of the batey population. More men (5.2%) are afflicted than women (4.8%). Men between the ages of 40 to 44 have a 12% affliction rate, while 8% of men between the ages of 30 and 34 have tested positive. Women in the 30- to 34-year-range have an 8.8% positive rate. On a national level, 0.9% of the female population and 1.1% of the male population are infected.
Luis Montalvo, the head of the Presidential AIDS Commission, told reporters that the most effective way to fight AIDS is to implement an effective communication, education and information program. According to the 2002 Census, the demographic groups most affected by AIDS are women between the ages of 25 and 34, and men between the ages of 30 and 49. Montalvo is quoted in an article in the List?n Diario as saying that the AIDS epidemic is slowing in the Dominican Republic. The areas of highest incidence are still the areas around Puerto Plata, the Northwest, the province of Espaillat, and the eastern part of the country. These areas have certain characteristics in common, such as tourism, industrial free zones, immigrant flow (especially Haitians), port facilities, and bateyes. The region with the highest incidence is Region V, which includes Puerto Plata, Santiago and Moca.