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AIDS in Southern Africa

Collecting data for Sub-Saharan countries is difficult. In some the statistics are gleaned from pre-natal clinics, leaving male population outside the statistics. In others, the collecting agency or the government may disbelieve the figures and doctor them. These are only given for your grasp and can be studied /compared through the given links at the close of the data presented.

HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Sub-Saharan Africa estimated 22.4 million affected –around 2/3 of global total
  • In 2008, 1.4 million died from AIDS
  • In 2008, 1.9 million became infected with HIV
  • In all 14 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS
  • Education, indu stry, agriculture, transportation, human resources and the economy suffer consequences.
  • Triple challenge: health care, AIDS education, coping with impact of AIDS deaths

14 million children have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS

Affects in Different Countries

  • Nigeria 3.1% adult HIV prevalence
  • Over 5%: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania
  • 15-25% adult HIV prevalence: Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
  • Over 20%: Botswana (23.9%), Lesotho (23.2%), Swaziland (26.1%)

Impact in Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Average life expectancy reduced from 62 to 47 years
  • Loss of income earners
  • Providing home based care reduced family earnings
  • Leaving behind orphans and loss of culture passed down
  • Slow down in economics and social progress – prime age 15-49 years
  • Poor health care infrastructure/shortage of medical professionals - millions receive no treatment for opportunistic infections when their immune systems are already infected by HIV

Average life expectancy in Sub-Saharan Africa is down 15 years due to HIV/AIDS

Prevention

  • Large scale prevention initiatives such as condoms increased in most countries with almost every country increasing incidence of infection rate at the same time.
  • Mother-to-child transmission initiatives are failing as 70,000 babies are born every year with HIV
  • Voluntary HIV counselling and testing benefits those who test negative to stay that way. Generally, awareness of positive status could be less likely to transmit to others.

Mother-to-child Transmission of HIV

  • Around 390,000 children became infected in 2008 - 90% acquired during pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding
  • In 2006, preventive drugs reached only 31% of HIV infected pregnant women

Around 390,000 children became infected in 2008 - 90% acquired during pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding

Treatment and Care

  • Counselling and testing
  • Follow-up counselling
  • Food and management of nutrition
  • Education to reduce incidence, stigma and discrimination
  • Education targeting women and girls (59% of HIV are female) at a young age to ensure they have knowledge and skills to avoid HIV
  • Treatment of other sexually transmitted infections
  • Prevention and Treatment of opportunistic infections
  • Appropriately managed Antiretroviral treatment