ZIMBABWE: Prevalence rate down

Harare, 29 September 2009 (PlusNews) - Zimbabwe's adult HIV prevalence rate is continuing its downward trend, showing a drop from 14.1 percent in 2008 to 13.7 percent in 2009, according to new estimates released by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.

The 2009 Antenatal Clinic (ANC) Surveillance Survey, based on blood specimens collected from 7,363 pregnant women anonymously screened at 19 clinic sites throughout the country, estimated that 1.1 million Zimbabweans in a probable population of around 11 million were living with HIV.

A slowdown in Zimbabwe's HIV/AIDS epidemic was first observed in the late 1990s and was supported by data from a 2005/06 population-based survey.

The prevalence rate is expected to continue decreasing; investigations have shown that the decline "most likely resulted from a combination of an increase in adult mortality and a decline in HIV incidence, resulting from adoption of safer sexual behaviours", said Dr Douglas Mombeshora, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare.

"When prevention programmes achieve heightened awareness, significant changes in behaviour will occur, and one of the main outcomes is the significant reduction in the need for PMTCT [prevention of mother-to-child transmission] services, as well as a reduced number of new HIV infections," he noted.

Mombeshora acknowledged that even the 13.7 percent prevalence rate was too high, and called for continued efforts to reduce HIV infection. "These positive signs in our fight against HIV and AIDS should spur all Zimbabweans to redouble their efforts and commit themselves to further reduce the burden of HIV and AIDS."

However, he noted with concern that while HIV infection at most survey sites had come down, some sites had registered notable increases, particularly those near border posts, mines and resettled farms. The highest rate was among women aged 20 to 39.

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Theme (s): HIV/AIDS (PlusNews),

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]