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HIV/AIDS prevalence in South Africa
Department of Health Press Release. 03 July 2003.
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The Report on the Survey on the Prevalence of HIV and Syphilis amongst Women Attending Public Health Sector Antenatal Clinics has been finalised and is due for official release. The survey is conducted in October every year and the results are released within the second quarter of the following year.
The results for 2002 survey were scheduled for official release by the end of June. However, due to logistical difficulties, the Department had to shift this target. There is no other reason for the delay.
The Department of Health is doing its best to ensure that these results are released by the end of this month. The Department regards HIV/AIDS and STIs as major challenges and is constantly scaling up its response to these diseases in terms of budget allocation and programme implementation.
The results of the antenatal survey serve as a reference in terms of the prevalence of HIV, syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections in the country. Since 1998, the outcome of this survey indicated that the HIV infection rate was levelling out and the level of syphillis was on a sharp decrease.
In statistical terms, the 1,7 percent increase in the 2002 figures (26,5%) from 2001 figure (24,8%) is not significant. This pattern of a minor, statistically insignificant increase has been sustained for four consecutive years.
Also sustained for the fourth year is a slight drop in the HIV prevalence rate among pregnant teenagers. Again, this decrease is too small to be statistically significant.
The 2002 results confirm a picture of relative stability that contrasts with steep increases each year prior to 1998. This supports our understanding that the country?’s prevention efforts are beginning to render positive results by slowing down the infection rate and we are getting close to the stabilisation of this epidemic. |
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