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HIV / AIDS was
first recorded in South Africa in 1983 with its first death,
however three years later there were still just 46 recorded
instances and even by the end of the decade only 1% of the
population was infected. This rose to 3% in 1996 then soared to
10% in 1999, causing 310,000 deaths in that year alone. This
rising figure prompted the government to launch a five year plan
designed to combat AIDS/HIV and sexually transmitted infections
and SANAC, (the South Africa AIDS Council) was
established. Despite this, today South Africa has the biggest HIV epidemic in the world, with 7.7 million people (20.4%) living with the condition and it is estimated 1.7 million children have
lost a parent to AIDS and overall roughly 14 percent of all children in South Africa are orphans. According to the latest available data (which has a delay latency), HIV prevalence among black Africans is 16.6%; followed by 'coloureds' (5.3%); whites (1.1%); and Indian/Asian (0.8%). HIV annual incidence among adults aged 15 to 49 years in South Africa is 0.79% with 0.93% among females and 0.69% among males.
In South Africa
the primary infection route is through heterosexual sex however
pregnancy is also a major infection cause. As such, it's of
concern that 80% of infected people aged 20-24 are female
infecting 40,000 children each and every year. There are
variations between provinces with over a third of pregnant women
in KwaZulu-Natal province being infected (see graph above). Poverty in South
Africa is already rife and the loss of an adult carer such as a
mother have have serious consequences with older children having
to fulfil that role, provide care themselves to younger siblings
and often having to give up school in order to do so. Again, the
loss of an adult, particularly a male father can plunge a family
into further poverty from which there is little or no escape.
Overall HIV peak prevalence occurs in 35 to 39 year olds
at 31.5% (females at 39.4% and males at 23.7%) but
differs by sex, peaking at an older age
among males (45 to 49 years) at 24.8% compared to females (35 to 39
years). The chart above shows the breakdown of HIV prevalence by age and gender.
This disparity in HIV prevalence by sex is
most pronounced among young adults:
HIV prevalence among 20 to 24 year-olds
is three times higher among females (15.6%) than males (4.8%). Fortunately numbers are declining in correlation with outrolling better HIV education and stressing the importance of condom use. Among individuals aged 15-64 years with two or
more sexual partners in the last year, 55.6% self-reported
condom use at last sex.
Of those aged 25-49 years, both males (53.0%) and females (53.4%)
had similar proportions of condom use. 68% of young males (15-24 years) with multiple
partners reported condom use at last sex compared
to 47.3% of females of the same age. Only 33.3% of older adults (50-64) years with multiple
partners used condoms at last sex. Whilst HIV numbers in South Africa are falling, the burden of HIV continues to disproportionately affect different geographical regions and high risk
groups, especially black Africans, adolescent girls and young women. In the video (below), a group of South African children talk about HIV /
AIDS, how its affected their communities and families, and the
impact of programs to address the issue. Current figures
suggest is levelling out and dropping for some age groups.
South Africa HIV: Volunteer in South Africa
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South Africa HIV: Life in South Africa
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South Africa HIV: Child Sponsor South Africa
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South Africa HIV: South Africa Country Profile
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